Health and safety warning issued to timber companies after court case

26 June 2017


Timber companies are being warned to make sure their health and safety standards are up to speed after a firm was fined despite no injury or ill-health being reported.

This prosecution saw hardwood flooring manufacturer Cambridge Timbertec Ltd fined £40,000. It had received six improvement notices and written advice from the Health and Safety Executive.

The company initially complied with the notices but then a further inspection resulted in three prohibition notices and four improvement notices, resulting in the court action.

Angela Southall, co-founder of health and safety consultancy Southalls, said there were lessons that timber sector companies could learn from the case.

“All too often businesses wrongly assume that there is a hierarchy, where if a breach is found they believe they can receive a verbal or written warning eventually leading to an improvement or prohibition notice,” said Ms Southall.

“The reality however, is that this hierarchy can be by-passed totally when required if a company’s history is a major cause for concern, with a company being prosecuted alongside these other measures even without an injury or ill-health outcome.

“It is essential therefore, that businesses continue to comply which means having in place a manager with suitable competence to oversee compliance with health and safety work regulations or looking for external health and safety consultancy support.”

Ms Southall said best practice for companies included understanding that health and safety is not a short-term measure; introducing a positive health and safety culture from the very top down; and appointing a competent person to put controls in place and outsource specialist health and safety expertise where necessary.

Companies should also be aware of wood dust and noise exposure limits, while also never bypassing safety controls (following PUWER regulations).

Following the Cambridge Timbertec prosecution, the HSE said the case highlighted the importance of continuing to comply with health and safety law.

“The HSE will consider prosecuting both a company and individuals even if there are no reported cases of injury or ill-health,” it said.