Renewed HSE Focus on Hazardous Substances in Food Production

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a renewed call for vigilance and strict adherence to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 across the UK's expansive food and drink manufacturing and service sectors. This regulatory push comes in response to a string of recent enforcement actions, substantial corporate fines, and ongoing investigations highlighting systemic failures in managing workplace health risks.

Recent enforcement data underlines the high stakes of non-compliance. Across Great Britain, courts continue to hand down substantial penalties for health and safety breaches, reflecting updated sentencing guidelines that target corporate culpability. Food and beverage operators—ranging from large-scale industrial bakeries to independent processing plants—are facing heightened scrutiny regarding how they store, handle, and control exposure to dangerous substances daily.

Key Hazards: From Flour Dust to Industrial Cleaners

The food industry presents a unique and complex array of COSHH challenges. Unlike office environments, food processing and manufacturing facilities routinely utilise and generate substances capable of causing severe, long-term occupational ill-health if left unmitigated. Key hazards routinely flagged by HSE inspectors include:

  • Flour and Ingredient Dusts: Inhalation of fine organic dusts within bakeries and milling facilities is a leading cause of occupational asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions. Recent HSE inspection sweeps have specifically targeted large bakeries to ensure employers protect staff from inhalable dust concentrations exceeding workplace exposure limits.
  • Cleaning and Disinfecting Chemicals: Strong acids, caustic alkalis, and powerful sanitisers used for mandatory hygiene down-wash cycles present acute risks of severe skin burns, eye damage, and respiratory irritation if proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe systems of work are absent.
  • Process-Generated Hazards: Chemical flavourings, fumigants, and carbon dioxide used in modified atmosphere packaging also demand rigorous risk assessments and continuous monitoring.

Legal Obligations and Employer Accountability

Under COSHH regulations, employers have an absolute legal duty to assess the risks associated with hazardous substances and implement all reasonably practicable measures to prevent or adequately control exposure. Recent prosecutions across the manufacturing sector demonstrate that inadequate risk assessments, missing local exhaust ventilation (LEV) maintenance, and a lack of proper staff training will invariably invite prosecution.

Related training: If you are looking to qualify as a trainer in this area, see cyber security trainer courses or explore fire safety instructor training for nationally recognised UK and Ireland qualifications.

Safety regulators continue to emphasise that written risk assessments cannot simply be box-ticking exercises stored away in filing cabinets. They must be active, regularly reviewed documents supported by comprehensive employee training programmes. Workers handling chemicals or operating in dusty environments must fully understand the risks they face and how to correctly use control measures, including respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

To ensure your workforce remains fully compliant with current UK health and safety legislation, visit Abertay Training at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk for accredited courses and expert guidance.