A food manufacturer has been fined after employees were at risk of developing occupational asthma a factory in Buckingham.

Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court heard how workers at Puratos Limited were at risk after HSE found the levels of inhalable dust at the site could cause illnesses such as occupational asthma.

A HSE inspection carried out on 03 December 2024 identified a number of unsafe practices, including dust escaping from machinery due to leaks, the use of compressed airlines to blow down dust deposits and dry sweeping using brushes and brooms.

A workplace dust monitoring report from18 December 2024 confirmed that employees were exposed to inhalable dust concentrations above the workplace exposure limits set by HSE during the testing undertaken.

HSE has been carrying out a series of inspections at inspections at large bakeries across Great Britain from January 2026. Inspectors have been checking that employers are properly protecting workers from the dangers of dusty ingredients including flour dust.

The investigation also found that workers were required to manually lift 25kg sacks of ingredients on a daily basis. Repeated manual handling of heavy loads can lead to musculoskeletal injuries and should be avoided where reasonably practicable.

The site had also previously been inspected in 2021 with enforcement action being taken in relation to employees’ exposure to dust as well as manual handling risks arising from its food manufacturing activities.

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 costs of £6270 at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on 17 July 2026.

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.”

Notes to Editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found here: Flour (Bakers and millers) – COSHH
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.

 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues to support Farm Safety Week, with new figures for 2025/26 revealing that children and older workers remain disproportionately at risk on Britain’s farms. Agriculture remains the industry with the highest rate of work-related fatalities.

Provisional data for 2025/26 shows that 29 people were killed in agriculture, forestry and fishing, including seven members of the public, three of whom were children. Over the last five years, nine children have lost their lives on Britain’s farms, representing 6% of all work-related fatal injuries in the sector. At the other end of the age spectrum, over 65s accounted for half of all worker fatalities in 2025/26 — a stark reminder that older farmers face particular risks in what remains a challenging working environment.

Over the last five years, the sector has averaged 28 work-related deaths per year. Measured per 100,000 workers, the fatal injury rate is five times higher than construction and 21 times higher than the all-industry average. Vehicles, falling objects, falls from height, animals and machinery continue to be the main causes of death, with moving or overturning vehicles alone claiming eight lives in 2025/26.

Wayne Owen, HSE inspector for agriculture said:

“The continued loss of life, particularly the deaths of nine children on Britain’s farms over the last five years, is both tragic and unacceptable.

“These are not inevitable accidents; many result from risks that could and should be controlled.

“Children, particularly young children, should not be in the farm workplace — they should be in a safe, fenced area such as a farmhouse garden.

“We are also deeply concerned about the number of older workers losing their lives. Over 65s account for half of all worker fatalities

“Meaningful and lasting improvement will only come through a significant cultural change across the industry — one that starts on every farm and with every farmer.

“HSE will continue to work with industry partners, including Britain’s Farm Safety Partnerships, to drive the cultural change that is so desperately needed.”

Free guidance, including , including What a good farm looks like and Farmwise Great if we can include these two publications as links (also available in Welsh), with both available at Agriculture – HSE.

 

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
3. Guidance for the agriculture industry is available – Agriculture – HSE.