London joinery firm fined £20,000 for failing to control wood dust

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F&E Joinery limited, a company in southeast London, was fined £20,000 for failing to control employees’ exposure to wood dust.

In May 2022, F&E limited was inspected as a result of a health and safety executive (HSE) campaign that targeted woodworking businesses due to the significant health risks associated with wood dust. One of the illnesses at a high risk of development due to wood dust exposure is occupational asthma.

London joinery firm fined

During the inspection, the inspector found several failings that were related to control of exposure to wood dust, including:

Excessive levels of settled dust around the site.
Some of the company’s machines had been disconnected from the local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system. This machine is used to extract dust at source during machining of wood.
There being no evidence that the settled wood dust was being cleaned up.

On top of these failings, the company had been served with an enforcement notice relating to their control of wood dust on two previous occasions spanning over 10 years.

On the 21^stof April 2023, F&E pleaded guilty at the Westminster magistrates’ court to breaching regulation 7(1) of the control of substances hazardous to health (as amended) regulations 2002 and consequently they were fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,500.

What is wood dust and why is it a concern?

Wood dust is created during all stages of wood processing such as sawing, routing, sanding and other operations. Workers can also be exposed when the dust becomes airborne such as when removing dust from furniture, maintenance activities or when cleaning equipment.

Exposure to wood dust has been associated with health issues due to the natural chemicals in wood or substances in the wood, such as bacteria, moulds, or fungi. Wood dust is also associated with toxic effects, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, dermatitis, and respiratory system effects which include decreased lung capacity and allergic reactions.

Both hardwood and softwood dusts have a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) which must not be exceeded.

The WEL for hardwood dust is 3mg/m3 (based on an 8-hour time-weighted average).

The WEL for softwood dust is 5mg/m3 (based on an 8-hour time-weighted average).

For mixtures of hardwood and softwood dusts the WEL for hardwood dust of 3mg/m3 applies to all wood dusts present in that mixture.

Adequate control of wood dust is achieved when:

The eight principles of good control practice are applied as set out in Schedule 2A of COSHH.

Exposure is below the relevant WEL; and
Exposure is reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.

What is occupational asthma?

Occupational asthma is an allergic reaction that occurs when people are exposed to substances at work. Substances can include wood dust or flour, etc. The substances are also known as ‘respiratory sensitizers’ or asthmagens and they can cause a change in people’s airways. Respiratory irritants may trigger attacks in those with occupational asthma or pre-existing asthma.

Since 2000, statistics indicate that there has been a decrease in the number of reported cases of occupational asthma. The occupations with the highest incidence rates include bakers and vehicle paint sprayers.

Symptoms of asthma

The main symptoms of asthma are:

Wheezing (whistling sound when breathing)
Breathlessness
A tight chest
Coughing

The symptoms can develop right after exposure to a workplace substance. But sometimes, symptoms could appear several hours later, possibly at night.

Risk factors

High-level exposure to sensitizer
Atopy
Genetic factors
Smoking
Allergies
Infections like colds or flu

Treatments for asthma

Asthma is normally treated by using an inhaler, which is a small device that lets you breathe in medicines.

The main types are:

Reliever inhalers – used when needed to quickly relieve asthma symptoms for a short time.
Preventer inhaler – used everyday to prevent asthma symptoms happening.

Some people also need to take tablets.

If you or anyone you know has been suffering from occupational asthma and is experiencing the symptoms listed above, then you might be able to claim compensation. We urge you to discuss your complaints and symptoms with a medical professional and subsequently seek legal advice.

If you feel your injuries have been caused as a result of your work and wish to enquire about a potential claim for compensation, please contact us.

Resources:

London joinery firm fined £20,000 for failing to control wood dust – HSE Media Centre

About asthma – HSE

Woodworking health topics: Inhaling wood dust – (HSE)

Occupational asthma – Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment – BMJ Best Practice

Asthma – NHS

Wood Dust – CCOHS