Wood supplier fined £40,000 over dust exposure

A wood supplier has been fined £40,000 for failing to protect its workers from exposure to wood dust.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation into Fakenham-based Nat Pal Ltd after it discovered dust scattered across the floors of its premises, it said.

The prosecution was launched after the firm ignored previous warnings, the HSE added in a statement on Tuesday (20 May).

The company, of Cummings Road, Tattersett Business Park, Fakenham, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act for failing to manage the risks created by operating a wood-working business.

It was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,072 at a hearing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on 16 May.

“Dust was found scattered across the floor, and the inspection identified failings in the company’s control measures to prevent exposure of their employees to wood dust and enforcement action was taken,” the HSE said.

Its investigation also identified “ongoing failings” in the company’s control measures and found that it had “failed to take appropriate precautions despite previous enforcement on the same issues dating back to 2015”, the watchdog added.

Breathing in wood dust excessively can cause asthma and nasal cancer, the HSE said.

Its guidance states that employers must take effective measures to prevent exposure of their employees to wood dust by providing exhaust ventilation systems, having appropriate respiratory protection and by carrying out health surveillance to monitor the respiratory health of employees.

“The fine imposed on Nat Pal Ltd should underline that HSE takes a failure to protect the health of employees extremely seriously,” HSE inspector Natalie Prince said.

“To make matters worse, this company had been visited previously and had failed to take steps to protect its workers.

“We will not hesitate to take action against companies which fail to do all they can.”