Bakery company fined £159,080 after exposing workers to flour dust

A bakery company was fined for safety breaches after employees suffered long term exposure to flour dust, a respiratory sensitiser.

Coopland & Son (Scarborough) Ltd. of Caxton Way, Pindar Business Park, Eastfield, Scarborough pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and has been fined £159,080 and ordered to pay £4,594 in costs.

Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard that between April 2002 and April 2016 employees were consistently exposed to risks to their health, with some being medically diagnosed as suffering from occupational asthma.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was no effective method of control to prevent the dust becoming airborne and employees being exposed to breathing in the dust.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Geoff Fletcher saidd: “Exposure to flour dust in an industrial setting can cause serious and debilitating health effects.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards”