January 22, 1999. Copyright, 1999, Graphic News. All rights 
reserved

INJURED MINERS TO SHARE £500m PAY-OUT 

LONDON, January 22, Graphic News-  A High Court judge in 
Manchester is expected to approve a compensation package for more 
than 30,000 former coal miners who suffer from the industrial 
disease known as vibration white finger (VWF).
	After years of legal struggle, and several test cases, the minersÕ 
lawyers have drawn up a settlement with the UK Government, which 
took over responsibility from British Coal after the industry was 
privatised. 
As diseases go, itÕs hardly well known, but VWF Ð also known as 
Ôdead handÕ or RaynaudÕs Phenomenon Ð results from the gradual 
reduction of blood supply to the hands from prolonged usage of 
vibrating equipment. 
This reduction causes damage to nerves and results in the 
sufferer not being able to feel any sensations in the hand. The 
disease also makes it very difficult to handle small objects or 
manipulate their fingers. Blue collar workers in factories, 
farmers and forestry workers who come into regular contact with 
drills and pneumatic equipment may also suffer from the disease. 
VWF became a prescribed disease in 1985.
The Energy Minister John Battle is expected to make a statement 
after the High Court hearing. 
Independent medical assessors will then decide on the exact 
damages for each VWF victim. The average pay-out is put at about 
£16,000, with some redundant miners who contracted the disease 
early in their underground careers, possibly receiving up to 
£40,000. 

Sources: BBC, National Union of Mineworkers