Major Food Manufacturer Penalised Following Serious Safety Failings

Major food manufacturing group Samworth Brothers Ltd has been ordered to pay nearly £600,000 following a robust prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The legal action came in the wake of a preventable incident at the company's Kettleby Foods factory in Melton Mowbray, where two workers sustained severe scald injuries while performing routine maintenance on steam pipework.

The Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard how an employee and a contractor were splashed with hot water when attempting to service complex machinery without adequate safeguards. The HSE investigation revealed fundamental flaws in how the high-risk task had been planned, noting that proper risk assessments had not been carried out and crucial safe isolation procedures were completely disregarded.

HSE Highlights Failure of Isolation and Lock-Off Procedures

During the proceedings, HSE enforcement lawyers outlined how the absence of effective safe isolation and lock-off protocols left workers directly exposed to pressurized hot water. The failure to control foreseeable hazards during plant maintenance directly breached Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

As a result of the employer's omissions, both men suffered agonizing scalds, with the injured employee requiring direct compensation alongside ongoing medical support. The court handed down a total fine of £594,000, alongside prosecution costs of £5,834, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and £6,000 in compensation directed straight to the injured worker. All penalties have been mandated for full settlement by early January 2027.

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Industry-Wide Warning on Plant Maintenance Standards

This substantial penalty reinforces the regulatory body's ongoing crackdown on industrial maintenance and isolation failures across the UK manufacturing sector. Safety experts emphasize that handling hazardous energy sources—such as steam, high pressure, and heavy machinery—requires rigid adherence to permit-to-work systems and rigorous workforce training.

Employers looking to prevent similar regulatory breaches and protect their workforce must ensure comprehensive safety protocols are embedded at every level of operation. To support compliance and safeguard personnel against preventable workplace hazards, certified health and safety instruction can be accessed through Abertay Training at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk