Severe Machinery Failure Leads to Substantial Fine
A fish processing company in Peterhead has been handed a substantial fine of £245,000 following a preventable workplace incident that left a worker with severe, life-altering injuries. The prosecution, brought forward by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), highlights critical failings in routine safety guard maintenance and the enforcement of safe isolation procedures within the food manufacturing sector.
The incident occurred on 19 August 2025 at the premises of Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage Company Limited. A 30-year-old chargehand on the production line noticed a box jammed high within a rack loader cage. Rather than following proper protocol, the worker entered the production line through an unprotected gap in the machinery's fixed guarding without isolating the power source. After climbing onto the conveyor, he attempted to manually release the jam, resulting in his arm and upper body being dragged into the moving mechanism.
Investigation Reveals Basic Safeguarding Oversight
An exhaustive investigation conducted by HSE inspectors uncovered that a crucial section of fixed safety guarding adjacent to the production line had been removed during routine maintenance approximately two weeks prior to the incident. Alarmingly, the guarding had never been reinstated. Furthermore, the weekly inspection checklists utilized by the in-house maintenance team omitted any requirement to verify the physical integrity of non-electrical fixed guards.
Colleagues who heard the victim's shouts for help managed to quickly isolate the power supply and halt the machinery. Emergency services rushed the injured worker to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where medical professionals diagnosed a fractured jaw, severe chest trauma, and extensive damage to his right arm. The worker underwent intensive surgery—including the insertion of metal plates into his jaw—and spent three days receiving in-patient hospital care before eventually returning to work.
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Legal Consequences and Industry Compliance Warnings
At a hearing held at Peterhead Sheriff Court, Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage Company Ltd formally pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) and (2) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), alongside Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Alongside the primary £245,000 fine, the company was ordered to pay an additional victim surcharge of £18,375.
HSE Inspector Nicky Smith condemned the company's lack of oversight, emphasizing that machinery hazards remain entirely controllable when standard safety management systems are correctly followed. Inspectors reiterated that physical guards must remain securely in place during operation, and pre-operational checks must encompass every individual guard rather than just electrical interlocks. To prevent similar catastrophic incidents, food and processing businesses must ensure robust lock-off protocols and comprehensive staff training. Organizations looking to elevate their safety standards and ensure compliance can access specialist guidance and training programs through Abertay Training at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk.