A BUSINESS has been fined a whopping £120,000 by the courts for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Devenish Nutrition LTD has been ordered to pay the large sum due to offences that were committed in Widnes in 2022.

The case has only recently been concluded before Warrington Magistrates’ Court, with the firm admitting three counts of contravening regulations.

These are Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, contrary to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Court documents state that the breaches occurred on or before May 3, 2022, at an address on Earle Road in Widnes.

As an employer, Devenish Nutrition failed to ensure that the exposure of its employees to dust hazardous to health was either prevented or, where this was not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.

It also admitted failing to ensure that thorough examination and testing of engineering controls of an exhaust ventilation plant was carried out at installation, and at least once every 14 months.

In addition, the court sentenced the firm for failing to ensure employees who were or were liable to be exposed to a substance hazardous to health were under suitable health surveillance.

The business, which had an address on court documents as Duncrue Street in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was ordered to pay a total of £126,497.97

This is broken down into a fine of £120,000, statutory surcharge to fund victim services of £190 and court costs of £6,307.97.