HSE Inspections Targeting Flour Dust in Bakeries – Is Your Site Compliant?
- nathalie1317
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently carrying out inspections at large bakeries across Great Britain, focusing on exposure to flour dust — one of the leading causes of occupational asthma in the UK.
For bakery operators, this is not a routine visit. It is a targeted compliance initiative centred on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and the effectiveness of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems.
The key question inspectors will ask is simple:
"Can you demonstrate that flour dust exposure is adequately controlled?"
Flour dust is a respiratory sensitiser. Repeated exposure can cause:
Occupational asthma
Chronic rhinitis
Dermatitis
Long-term respiratory damage
Under COSHH, flour dust has a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL):
10 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA) – inhalable dust
4 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA) – respirable fraction
However, compliance is not just about staying below a numerical limit. Employers must reduce exposure as far as is reasonably practicable, using effective engineering controls.
This is where many bakeries fall short.
What HSE Inspectors Are Looking For
During inspections, HSE will typically assess:
1️⃣ Suitable and Sufficient COSHH Assessments
Is flour dust clearly identified as a hazardous substance?
Are exposure risks properly evaluated?
Are control measures documented and reviewed?
2️⃣ Effective LEV Systems
Inspectors expect properly designed dust extraction systems at:
Sack tipping stations
Weighing and batching areas
Mixing bowls
Silo discharge points
Sieving stations
Under COSHH Regulation 9, LEV systems must undergo a Thorough Examination and Test
(TExT) at least every 14 months.
This testing must be conducted in accordance with HSG258 guidance, with documented evidence including:
Capture velocity readings
Static pressure data
Fan performance checks
Filter condition assessments
Detailed written reports
If your site cannot produce compliant TExT reports, you are at risk of enforcement action.
Common Failures Found in Bakeries
HSE frequently identifies:
Poor hood positioning at mixers
Insufficient capture velocities
Settled flour withinthe ductwork
No airflow indicators for operators
Missed 14-month examination deadlines
Inadequate maintenance records
Extraction must not simply exist — it must be demonstrably effective.
Why Bakeries Across Scotland and the UK Trust A-Mac Environmental
A-Mac Environmental specialises in Local Exhaust Ventilation and COSHH compliance services for industrial and food production environments.
We provide full turnkey dust control solutions for bakeries, including:
✔ LEV System Design
Site surveys and exposure risk assessment
Capture hood design for mixing and tipping stations
Correct duct velocity calculations
Filter and fan specification
System balancing
✔ Supply & Installation
Hygienic dust extraction systems
Food-production compliant filtration
Safe integration into existing process lines
Commissioning and performance verification
✔ HSG258-Compliant Thorough Examination & Testing (TExT)
Our engineers are qualified to P601 and P602 standards, carrying out:
Quantitative airflow testing
Capture velocity measurement
System performance verification
Full COSHH Regulation 9 reporting
Clear remedial recommendations
✔ Ongoing Maintenance & Compliance Support
Planned preventative maintenance
Filter replacement programmes
Emergency repairs
Compliance tracking support
Engineering Depth Matters
Effective flour dust control requires more than installing a fan.
It requires:
Correct capture velocity at source
Proper hood geometry
Duct velocities sufficient to prevent dust settlement
Correct filtration efficiency
Balanced airflow across multiple extraction points
Routine performance verification
At A-Mac Environmental, we engineer systems that balance operational practicality and regulatory compliance, ensuring bakery operators can demonstrate control in the event of HSE calls.
Protecting Your Workforce and Your Business
Flour dust exposure does not just lead to enforcement notices — it leads to:
Long-term staff illness
Increased sickness absence
Potential civil claims
Insurance implications
Production disruption
A proactive compliance strategy protects your workforce and your reputation.
Is Your Bakery Inspection-Ready?
With HSE inspections underway, now is the time to review:
Has your LEV been tested within 14 months?
Are airflow readings documented?
Is your COSHH assessment up to date?
Can you demonstrate exposure control?
If you are unsure, a professional LEV compliance review can provide clarity before an inspector does.
Local Exhaust Ventilation & COSHH Compliance Specialists
Protecting bakeries across Scotland.
Design. Supply. Installation. Testing. Maintenance.
If you would like, I can also create a shortened website version, a LinkedIn post, or an email campaign tailored specifically for bakery production managers or H&S leads.
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