Anglian Timber Ltd has been fined £30,000 for health and safety breaches in relation to its use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA).
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which brought the case at Hastings Magistrates’ Court, said the substantial fine should “send a strong message” to the woodworking industry that health and safety breaches are taken very seriously by the courts.
The breaches occurred at Anglian Timber’s premises at Battle, East Sussex, between April 28 and May 23 2003.
Staff were machining timber within 48 hours of treatment, as well as transporting wet timber on lorries. The company was also found to have inadequate welfare facilities and personal protective equipment.
Health and safety inspector Mike Walters said: “The case highlights the need for employers to ensure that suitable control measures are in place to protect employees from the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace.”
Essex-based Anglian Timber pleaded guilty to three offences. It was fined £20,000 for breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act and a total of £10,000 for breaching two sections of the Control of Pesticides Regulations.
The company was also ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £2,645.60.
