The long-term health of workers at a wood waste recycling centre was put in danger by excessive dust exposure, HSE found.
Esken Renewables Ltd processed mixed wood waste into biofuel in Middlesbrough. Wood dust can cause asthma and nasal cancer; softwood is an asthmagen, hardwood a carcinogen.
An HSE inspection in April 2022 followed reports of dust spreading to surrounding areas. The company failed to minimise wood dust emissions through enclosure, local exhaust ventilation, or vacuum cleaning, putting employees at risk.
Esken Renewables pleaded guilty to breaching COSHH Regulations by failing to control exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and was fined £160,000 with £5,310.35 in costs on 23 May 2024.
