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Nat Pal Ltd, a woodworking supplier based in Fakenham, has been fined £40,000 after Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection found serious breaches in protecting workers from hazardous wood dust exposure – a known cause of asthma and nose cancer.
Nat Pal Ltd’s HSE violations explained
The inspection revealed major failings in the company’s control mechanisms to protect its workers from wood dust exposure.
Enforcement action was taken after the HSE examination discovered dust scattered all over the floor. In addition to persistent failures in the company’s control mechanisms.
Concluding that, despite prior enforcement on the same issues as early as 2015, it had not taken the necessary precautions.
Findings and the verdict: Nat Pal Limited pleads guilty.
Enforcement action was taken after the HSE inspection revealed failings in the company’s control mechanisms to shield its workers from wood dust exposure.
A guilty plea was entered by Nat Pal Limited, located at Cummings Road, Tattersett Business Park, Fakenham, to a charge of violating Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974.
By failing to manage the risks associated with running a woodworking business and failing to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of its employees at work to the extent that it was reasonably practicable.
On May 16, 2025, the company was fined £40,000 and told to pay £4,072 in costs during a hearing held at Norwich Magistrates’ Court.
HSE response after the hearing:
Following the hearing, HSE inspector Natalie Prince stated: “The fine imposed on Nat Pal Limited should demonstrate that HSE takes a failure to protect employee health extremely seriously.”
“To make matters worse, this company had been visited previously and had failed to take steps to protect its workers.
“We will not hesitate to take action against companies that fail to do all they can.”
Paralegal officer Imogen Isaac and HSE enforcement attorney Rebecca Schwartz brought this HSE prosecution.
HSE required guidelines for wood dust exposure:
There are guidelines for working in the woodworking business, and a push to protect workers is being spearheaded by inspections.
Excessive wood dust inhalation might lead to nose cancer and asthma.
According to that guideline, businesses are required to take practical steps to shield their staff against wood dust exposure. Usually, this will be done by:
- Providing and maintaining local exhaust ventilation systems.
- Having appropriate face-fit tested respiratory protection.
- Carrying out health surveillance to monitor the respiratory health of employees.
For your Heath surveillance checklist link here:
Frequently asked questions:
What are the workplace dust exposure limits?
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.
How did I contract an industrial disease?
Sufferers will usually contract an industrial disease through their working environments. It may be that the symptoms of the disease do not appear for some time, and they may have left their position before the illness manifests itself.
When pursuing a case against a previous employer, it may be necessary to trace back to their time of employment or consider multiple similar employers who may be liable for the presenting symptoms.
If your former company is no longer trading, you can still claim through an Employers Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) search. This search aims to identify who insured the company when you worked for them. If insurers are found, they will become the claimants. Claimants may forget jobs or years of employment, and the name they think they were their employer may not be the actual legal entity.
We will therefore obtain your employment schedule from the HMRC, which will list all your employers through your lifetime. After discussion with yourself, we will then look to proceed with the claims against all the identified Defendants and their insurers.
What is the duty of my employer to protect me from developing a respiratory illness at work?
As well as common law duty to ensure a safe place of work and a safe system of work, your employer will have a number of duties set down by statute.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Employers have a duty so far as is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety and welfare of their employees.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Duty to undertake a reasonable risk assessment (Reg. 3)
- Requirement to undertake a health surveillance (Reg. 6)
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
- Ensure that suitable personal equipment is provided (Reg. 4)
- Ensure an assessment of any personal protective equipment is undertaken to determine whether it is suitable.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002
- Required to assess health risk where work is liable to expose employees to substances hazardous to health (Reg. 6)
- Ensure exposure to substances hazardous to health is either prevented, or where not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled (Reg. 7)
- Ensure any employee exposed to substances hazardous to health are monitored and under suitable health surveillance (Reg. 11)
What can I claim?
Each Industrial Disease case has to be treated individually, and not every case will be the same. In any claim for personal injury there are broadly two heads of damages that can be claimed:
Awards that are made for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity of life. Loss of amenity means the inability to complete activities, either temporarily or permanently, after an accident, which could be undertaken before. This is an award designed to compensate you for the actual injuries suffered, and the effect those have had on your quality of life.
Damages to compensate for any financial losses as a result of the Industrial Disease. This could be any loss of earnings, any medication you have had to pay for, or any cost of care for the extra care you have needed from family or care providers.
If you are not able to do things such as gardening, walking the dog and have to pay somebody for these services as a direct consequence of your Industrial Disease, these can also be claimed for.
In regard to General Damages Judges, insurance companies and solicitors use a basic guide called the Judicial Guidelines which is an indication of what could be expected from an injury or symptoms.
As a rough guide, claims for general damages for the distinct types of disease claims are as follows:
Asbestos-related illness – Depending on the illness, the award can range from £60,000 – £110,000.
Occupational Asthma – Award will normally fall between £3,000 – £12,000.
To stress – this is an estimate of what most cases settle for. It is only once medical evidence has been obtained that a full assessment of the value of the general damages can be made. The settlement figure may be higher or lower than the figures quoted above.
Further information:
Wood supplier hit with £40,000 for failing to protect workers from dust.
HSE wood dust.
Oakwood solicitors Respiratory Disease Claims.
WHAT TO DO NEXT:
Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
Liam Hill is a Solicitor and Deputy Head of the Industrial Disease Team, having trained and qualified at Oakwood Solicitors. Liam joined us in 2013 after successfully completing the Legal Practice C…
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