Power giant Drax has indicated it will plead not guilty to accusations that dust from its wood pellets allegedly posed a risk to the health of employees.
In September, Sky News revealed the energy producer was facing criminal prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for two alleged offences.
Drax Power Ltd. is accused of exposing employees to wood dust at its Selby plant – where it burns biomass to generate electricity – thereby risking their “health, safety and welfare at work”.
It is also charged with breaching risk assessment obligations before allowing employees to work with potentially “hazardous substances” at the biomass station, which is the largest of its kind in the UK.
In Tuesday morning’s hearing at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, a legal representative for Drax indicated it would plead not guilty to both charges.
The case was transferred to Leeds Crown Court, with the next hearing currently expected on 31 December.
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