Recent prosecutions: Firm fined £10,000 for safety offences after surprise HSE visit

A joinery firm has been hit with a £10,000 fine for a catalogue of health and safety breaches. 

As part of an unannounced visit, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors identified multiple compliance issues exposing employees to avoidable workplace hazards. 

Wood dust was a key concern, with the business failing to implement preventative safety measures – such as extraction equipment and health surveillance – in line with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002. Without suitable controls in place, workers were at risk of inhaling particles linked to a range of life-limiting health conditions, including occupational asthma, nasal cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The HSE inspector said: ‘Wood dust can cause serious health problems. It can cause asthma, which carpenters and joiners are four times more likely to get compared with other UK workers.

‘There is clear health and safety guidance available to assist businesses in adequately controlling exposure to wood dust. 

‘Adequate control of wood dust is achieved when the eight principles of good control practice are applied.’

The HSE inspection also revealed non-compliant electrical installations, including both fixed and portable appliances and machinery. Exposed wiring placed workers at risk of severe injuries or electric shock.

The visit highlighted the importance of regular electrical system maintenance, inspection, and testing to prevent safety incidents, financial penalties, and prosecution. 

Controlling wood dust exposure in your builders merchant

The HSE’s surprise visit spotlights their continued crackdown on wood dust exposure. Their national ‘Dust Kills’ campaign – educating businesses and individuals about the dangers of silica, wood dust, and asbestos – underlines their targeted approach to prosecutions. 

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH) Regulations, employers are legally required to protect employees against exposure to hazardous substances, including wood dust. This can be achieved using a range of tried-and-tested methods:

• Installing local exhaust ventilation (LEV), which is widely viewed as the most effective control method for airborne particulate dusts.
• Banning dry sweeping within a mill or machining area.
• Providing HEPA filter or M Class vacuums to remove wood dust in areas that LEV extensions can’t reach.
• Supplying appropriate PPE, such as FFP3 masks and gloves, when changing dust bags.
• Teaming LEV with respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when sanding.
• Using face-fit testing as part of your risk assessments when FFP3 masks are required.
• Implementing occupational health lung function testing (spirometry) or air monitoring as an extra measure.

Download our free white paper

Our free white paper – Occupational health: The business benefits of a proactive approach – explains how to control workplace illness and injury risks through early intervention and business-minded safety strategies. 

Our sector specialists outline how a front-footed occupational health programme can protect your people – while boosting performance, engagement, and profitability. 

Inside, you’ll find:

• An overview of your legal health and safety responsibilities. 
• Practical ways to safeguard staff, reduce absence, and improve productivity.
• The business case for investing in occupational health.
• Six common – and costly – occupational health myths. 
• How to create a commercially sound occupational health programme. 
• The advantages of partnering with an occupational health expert.

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For clear answers to your most complex compliance questions, talk to the Opus Safety team on 0330 043 4015 or email hello@opus-safety.co.uk.