A fish processing company has been fined £245,000 after a worker was pulled into a machine and suffered a fractured jaw, arm and chest injuries at its factory in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that a safety guard had been removed during maintenance two weeks before the incident and had not been replaced.
The 30-year-old worker was trying to clear a jammed box at Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage on 19 August 2025 when his right arm was dragged into the mechanism. He needed surgery to insert metal plates into his jaw and spent three days in hospital, but made a full recovery and returned to work about six weeks later.
The incident occurred after the employee entered the production line without first isolating the power. He climbed onto the conveyor and pressed down the lid of the box to release the jam, but the machine restarted and pulled him in by his arm until his head made contact with moving parts. A colleague shut down the machine after hearing his shouts for help.
The HSE investigation found that a section of fixed guarding next to the production line had been removed during maintenance about two weeks earlier and was not put back. Without the guard, workers could access the production line without the power being isolated. Normally, they would have to pass through an interlocked gate that would have switched off the machinery as soon as the gate was opened.
Maintenance staff told HSE investigators they had noticed the guard was missing and had seen employees using the gap, but it was not reinstated. The weekly inspection checklist used by the in-house maintenance team did not include checking the integrity of non-electrical fixed guarding.
The company pleaded guilty to health and safety offences at Peterhead Sheriff Court.
HSE inspector Nicky Smith said: "This was a wholly preventable incident which left a worker seriously injured. A missing guard and an unchecked gap left the way open for a worker to be dragged into a machine. Guards must be kept in place, and checks must cover every guard, not just the electrical ones."
The company has been contacted for comment.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The incident highlights how a seemingly minor maintenance oversight, a missing guard left unreplaced for two weeks, can lead to serious injury.
- The fine, at £245,000, reflects the legal obligations on firms to ensure machinery guarding is properly maintained and checked.
- The case underscores the importance of including all safety guards, not just electrical ones, in routine inspection checklists.
Background
Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage is a fish processing firm based in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, one of Scotland's largest fishing ports. The incident occurred on 19 August 2025 at its production facility. The Health and Safety Executive is the UK's workplace safety regulator. Peterhead Sheriff Court handles criminal and civil cases in the area.
Key Perspectives
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Nicky Smith: called the incident "wholly preventable" and said a missing guard and an unchecked gap left the way open for a worker to be dragged into a machine. Smith said guards must be kept in place and checks must cover every guard, not just the electrical ones.
What to Watch
- Whether the company faces any further enforcement action or changes to its safety inspection procedures.
- Whether the HSE issues sector-wide guidance on guarding checks as a result of the case.
- Any civil claim for damages by the injured worker.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe fish firm was fined £245,000 after a worker was dragged into a machine in Peterhead.BBC Scotland: “A fish processing firm has been fined £245,000 after a worker was dragged into a machine in Aberdeenshire.”
- SupportedThe HSE investigation found that a safety guard had been removed during maintenance two weeks before the incident and was not replaced.BBC Scotland: “An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident in August last year found a safety guard had been removed during maintenance two weeks earlier and was not replaced.”
- SupportedThe worker suffered a fractured jaw and injuries to his chest and arm.BBC Scotland: “He suffered a fractured jaw and injuries to his chest and arm, and needed surgery.”
- SupportedThe worker was 30 years old and the incident happened on 19 August 2025 at Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage in Peterhead.BBC Scotland: “The 30-year-old man was trying to free a jammed box at Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage in Peterhead”
- SupportedThe worker entered the production line without first isolating the power to clear a jammed box.BBC Scotland: “The incident happened on 19 August 2025 after the worker entered the production line to clear a jammed box without first isolating the power.”
- SupportedThe worker climbed onto the conveyor and pressed down the box lid; the machine restarted and pulled him in by his arm until his head contacted moving parts.BBC Scotland: “He climbed onto the conveyor and pressed down the lid of the box to release the jam, but the machine then restarted and he was pulled by his arm into the mechanism until his head made contact with moving parts.”
- SupportedA colleague heard the worker shout for help and shut down the machine.BBC Scotland: “A colleague, hearing his shouts for help, shut down the machine”
- SupportedThe worker had surgery to insert metal plates into his jaw, spent three days in hospital, made a full recovery and returned to work about six weeks later.BBC Scotland: “He needed surgery to insert metal plates into his jaw and spent three days in hospital but made a full recovery and returned to work about six weeks later.”
- SupportedMaintenance staff told HSE investigators they had noticed the missing guard and employees using the gap, but the guard was not reinstated.BBC Scotland: “Maintenance staff told HSE investigators they had noticed the guard was missing and had seen employees using the gap, but it was not reinstated.”
- SupportedThe in-house maintenance team's weekly checklist did not check the integrity of non-electrical fixed guarding.BBC Scotland: “The weekly inspection checklist used by the in-house maintenance team did not include checking the integrity of non-electrical fixed guarding.”
- SupportedThe company pleaded guilty to health and safety offences at Peterhead Sheriff Court.BBC Scotland: “The company, which pleaded guilty to health and safety offences at Peterhead Sheriff Court, has been contacted for comment.”
- SupportedHSE inspector Nicky Smith said: “This was a wholly preventable incident which left a worker seriously injured. A missing guard and an unchecked gap left the way open for a worker to be dragged into a machine. Guards must be kept in place, and checks must cover every guard, not just the electrical ones.”BBC Scotland: “HSE inspector Nicky Smith said: "This was a wholly preventable incident which left a worker seriously injured. "A missing guard and an unchecked gap left the way open for a worker to be dragged into a machine. "Guards must be kept in place, and checks must cover every guard, not just the electrical ones."”