A food manufacturer has been fined £120,000 after workers were exposed to inhalable dust levels that placed them at risk of developing occupational asthma at its factory in Buckingham.
Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court heard that employees at Puratos Limited were at risk after a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found flour dust concentrations capable of causing occupational illnesses.
Unsafe working practices
An HSE inspection on 3 December 2024 identified a number of unsafe practices at the site, including dust escaping from machinery through leaks, the use of compressed airlines to remove dust deposits and dry sweeping using brushes and brooms.
A workplace dust monitoring report dated 18 December 2024 confirmed that employees were exposed to inhalable dust concentrations above HSE workplace exposure limits during testing.
Inspectors also found employees were required to manually lift 25kg sacks of ingredients on a daily basis. HSE said repeated manual handling of heavy loads can lead to musculoskeletal injuries and should be avoided where reasonably practicable.
Previous enforcement action
The site had previously been inspected in 2021, when enforcement action was taken over employee exposure to dust and manual handling risks associated with its food manufacturing activities.
HSE has been carrying out a programme of inspections at large bakeries across Great Britain since January 2026, focusing on whether employers are adequately protecting workers from the risks posed by dusty ingredients, including flour dust.
Court outcome
Puratos Limited, of Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay £6,270 in costs at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on 17 July.
Following the hearing, HSE inspector Emma Page said: “Too many workers in bakeries are suffering from unnecessary exposure to dusty ingredients, including flour. When employers prevent exposure, the risk of occupational asthma is removed.
“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.”
