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A furniture company was fined £16,000 with over £3,000 in costs for failing to safeguard staff from wood dust hazards. The penalties followed two Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspections, each revealing significant compliance issues. Despite the initial inspection resulting in six improvement notices, identical breaches were discovered during the subsequent visit.
Following the hearing, the HSE inspector advised: "Wood dust is a substance hazardous to health because it can cause serious non-reversible health problems, including asthma, dermatitis, and irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. Occupational lung disease causes the death of 12,000 people in Great Britain annually."
Prevent wood dust penalties in your business
Wood dust is a critical target area for the HSE, and inspections in this case formed part of their national 'Dust Kills' campaign. Key preventative measures include thorough examination of extraction equipment, face fit testing as required by COSHH, health surveillance for exposed workers, and implementation of local exhaust ventilation systems.
Last updated
November 4, 2023
Opus Safety
Health & safety insights
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