Food company fined £120k over asthma risk to staff
GoogleA bakery ingredients manufacturer has been fined £120,000 for putting workers at risk of developing asthma.
Inspectors found dust leaking out of machinery at Puratos Ltd's warehouse on the Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckinghamshire, in December 2024.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also discovered workers were required to manually lift 25kg (55lb) sacks of ingredients on a daily basis.
The company was found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was also ordered to pay £6,270 in costs at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court on Friday.
It was the latest visit by the HSE to the site, which took enforcement action against the company back in 2021 over similar concerns.
"Too many workers in bakeries are suffering from unnecessary exposure to dusty ingredients, including flour," said Emma Page, an inspector.
HSEPuratos announced plans to expand its facility to produce fillings, patisserie glazes and sourdough products in February.
It described there being a "fast-growing demand across the UK" for bakery ingredients.
The HSE has been carrying out a series of inspections at large bakeries across England since January.
Page added: "In the food and drink industries, around one-third of reportable injuries are acute injuries caused by handling and lifting.
"Employers must ensure they are properly protecting workers from the dangers of dusty ingredients and the manual handling of heavy materials."
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