A bakery company based in Hertfordshire has been fined for safety failings.

Stevenage Magistrates’ Court heard how Arnaouti Pitta Bread Bakery Ltd was inspected in April 2015 by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and four Improvement notices were issued.

HSE found the electrical network was not operated or maintained in a safe condition, guarding to machinery was not up to standard, and there was no health surveillance for exposure to flour dust. HSE prosecuted the firm after they failed to comply with the improvements set out in the notices within the deadline.

Arnaouti Pitta Bread Bakery Limited, of Stephenson Close, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to contravening the requirements imposed by the Improvement Notices, to breaching Regulation11(1) of the Provision(and Use) of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Regulation 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, and Regulation 11 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. They were fined £36,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1912.80.

For further information on controlling substances which can be hazardous to health visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/harmful/coshh.htm^[1]

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk^[2]
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ ^[3]
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk