Unannounced visit by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found failures.
\nThe company had failed to protect workers from exposure to wood dust.
\nThey also failed to maintain electrical installations.<\/p>\n
A joinery firm in Middlesbrough has been fined \u00a310,000 after an unannounced visit by Britain\u2019s workplace regulator found multiple health and safety breaches.<\/p>\n
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) \u00a0visited Abbey Joinery and Manufacture Limited at its Worlton Road site on 25 May 2023. During their inspection they identified multiple failings relating to the company\u2019s control of wood dust as well as its maintenance of electrical systems.\u00a0 These failings meant that employees were being unnecessarily exposed to unnecessary risks.<\/p>\n
Inspectors found wood dust across the site<\/p>\n
Breathing in wood dust excessively can cause asthma and nasal cancer. HSE provides a range of\u00a0guidance on working in the\u00a0woodworking industry<\/a>, covering the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002; exposure limits; extraction; and health surveillance.<\/p>\n HSE inspector Darian Dundas said: \u201cWood dust can cause serious health problems.<\/p>\n \u201cIt can cause\u00a0asthma<\/a>, which carpenters and joiners are four times more likely to get compared with other UK workers.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is clear health and safety guidance available to assist businesses in adequately controlling exposure to wood dust.<\/p>\n \u201cAdequate control of wood dust is achieved when the eight principles of good control practice are applied.\u201d<\/p>\n The HSE inspection also found failures in the company\u2019s electrical installations, including both fixed and portable appliances and machinery. Exposed wiring carried the potential to put workers at risk of serious injury, or worse, from electric shock.<\/p>\n Electrical failings were also identified<\/p>\n HSE guidance about\u00a0electrical safety<\/a> is also available. Darian Dundas continued: \u201cIt is vital that maintenance is carried out done to ensure the safety of electrical systems.<\/p>\n \u201cThe inspection and testing of equipment is also an essential part of any preventive maintenance programme.<\/p>\n \u201cThis investigation was supported by specialist inspectors with a deep knowledge in electrical safety.<\/p>\n Abbey Joinery and Manufacture Limited, of Whorlton Road in Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined \u00a310,000 with \u00a34,428 costs by Teesside Magistrates\u2019 Court.<\/p>\n This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward and paralegal officer Jason Dix.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Further information:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Health and Safety Executive<\/a>\u00a0(HSE) is Britain\u2019s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives. Unannounced visit by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found failures. The company had failed to protect workers from exposure to wood dust. They also failed to maintain electrical installations. A joinery firm in Middlesbrough has been fined \u00a310,000 after an unannounced visit by Britain\u2019s workplace regulator found multiple health and safety breaches. Inspectors from the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2076"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2076"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2076\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMore information about the\u00a0legislation<\/a>\u00a0referred to in this case is available.
\nFurther details on the latest\u00a0HSE news releases<\/a>\u00a0is available.
\nHSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.\u00a0 The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences in England and Wales can be found\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0and for those in Scotland\u00a0here<\/a>.
\nRelevant HSE guidance referred to in this press release can be found here: Control of substances hazardous to health (Sixth edition) \u2013 HSE<\/a>, EH40\/2005 Workplace exposure limits<\/a> and The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 \u2013 HSE<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"