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Shetland Fish Plant Fined After Horrific Machine Accident
28 Aug
Summary
- A forklift supervisor sustained life-threatening injuries in a machine accident.
- The incident occurred on October 10, 2024, at a Lerwick fish processing plant.
- Pelagia Shetland Limited was fined £451,500 for health and safety breaches.
A fish processing company in Shetland has been fined a substantial £451,500 following a severe health and safety violation. The penalty was issued after a forklift supervisor, Curtis New, sustained life-threatening injuries at the company's Lerwick plant. The incident occurred on October 10, 2024.
New was attempting to clear a blockage in a palletiser machine when it unexpectedly restarted. He was struck multiple times before a colleague managed to activate the emergency stop. New, aged 41, suffered multiple fractures and two collapsed lungs, requiring airlift to a hospital.
Pelagia Shetland Limited pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations. Investigations by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that New had removed a panel to access the machine's interior after finding a safety gate difficult to open.
