A Northwich furniture company has been fined £16,000 after it repeatedly failed to protect its employees from exposure to wood dust.
Pineland Furniture Ltd, based on Witton Street in the Cheshire town, was inspected by the HSE on two separate occasions over a two-year period – with both identifying identical breaches.
Nathan Cook, HSE senior enforcement lawyer, told Chester Magistrates Court how a visit in December 2019 found significant breaches of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) – resulting in six improvement notices being served. These included requirements for the company to undertake statutory examinations of its wood dust extraction systems and to undertake face fit testing for those employees required to wear tight fitting face masks.
However, another visit to the same premises in November 2021 found identical breaches and again improvement notices were served.
This inspection came as part of HSE’s national campaign targeting woodworking businesses. The significant occupational health risks associated with wood dust and the continued failure to ensure control of exposure to wood dust resulted in HSE prosecuting the company.
Pineland Furniture Limited pleaded guilty to breaching regulations 7(1) and 9(2)(a) of COSHH. They were fined £16,000 and was ordered to pay £3,008 costs at a hearing at Chester Magistrates Court.
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