A fish processing company has been fined £245,000 after a worker suffered serious injuries when he was pulled into a production machine through a gap where a safety guard had been removed. Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage Company Limited, based in Peterhead, admitted health and safety breaches following the August 2025 incident.
The 30-year-old chargehand was attempting to clear a jammed box when he entered the production line without isolating the power supply. The machine restarted, pulling his arm into the mechanism and causing a fractured jaw along with chest and arm injuries. He required surgery and spent three days in hospital before making a full recovery.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that a section of fixed guarding had been removed during maintenance around two weeks earlier and had not been replaced. Staff had reportedly been using the gap to access machinery instead of the designated interlocked gate, which would have automatically isolated the power.
The case is a stark reminder that machinery guards and safe isolation procedures are critical safeguards that should never be bypassed. Regular inspections must ensure all protective measures remain in place and fully effective.
