Pelagia Shetland Limited has been fined a substantial £451,500 after a supervisor sustained life-threatening injuries at its Lerwick fish processing plant. The incident, which occurred on 10 October 2024, saw 41-year-old Curtis New suffer multiple fractures and two collapsed lungs after becoming entangled in a palletiser machine. The company pleaded guilty to health and safety failings at Lerwick Sheriff Court on 26 August 2026.
Supervisor entangled in machinery after safety gate failed
Mr New, a forklift supervisor, was called to clear a blockage within the palletiser machine. He found an interlocking safety gate, designed to prevent access when the machine was operational, difficult to open. Instead of ensuring the machine was fully isolated and the gate properly accessed, Mr New removed a loose panel and entered the machine’s area. As he walked along a stationary conveyor to reach the blockage, a sensor was triggered, causing the machine to restart. He was repeatedly struck by its pushers before a quick-thinking colleague managed to hit an emergency stop button.
The severity of Mr New’s injuries necessitated immediate medical attention, with first aiders treating him at the scene before he was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. He spent a critical 10 days in intensive care, followed by another 10 days in a high dependency unit. His injuries included eight fractured ribs, a pelvis fractured in five places, a fractured clavicle and scapula, and two collapsed lungs. Following his initial treatment, he was transferred to Gilbert Bain Hospital for rehabilitation. The traumatic experience has had a lasting impact, with Mr New stating he does not wish to return to his previous role.
An investigation conducted by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors revealed failures in the plant’s safety protocols and equipment maintenance. It was discovered that the perimeter safety fencing around the palletiser machine, which was intended to isolate the power supply when the interlocking gate was opened, had become insecure. Earlier in 2024, the gate itself had been struck by a forklift truck, damaging its locking mechanism and making it difficult to open. Rather than repairing the damaged gate promptly and effectively, two senior staff members, including Mr New, had developed a dangerous practice of removing the loose panel to clear frequent blockages, critically failing to isolate the machine’s power first.
Pelagia Shetland Limited, of Point of Scattland, Gremista, Lerwick, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 11 (1) and (2) of The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, and section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £420,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £31,500, totalling £451,500.
HSE inspector Matty Spiers commented on the incident, stating that it was “wholly avoidable” and resulted from a “basic, well-understood safety control” being allowed to fail. He emphasised that interlocking guards serve a vital purpose: to prevent individuals from accessing dangerous machinery while it is still live. Spiers highlighted that the damaged gate should have been repaired immediately and its integrity restored, rather than being left in a condition where an employee could bypass it and enter a hazardous area. He underscored that Mr New was fortunate to be alive, having suffered catastrophic injuries while performing a task that should have been impossible without the machine being isolated.
Employers, he stressed, have a legal duty to ensure guarding and interlock systems are properly maintained and that any weaknesses are identified and corrected without delay, framing this not as a bureaucratic exercise but as a fundamental safeguard against serious, life-changing injuries.
Following the incident and subsequent investigation, Pelagia Shetland Limited reported the event to the HSE and has since reinstated its perimeter fencing, ensuring the gate is now the sole means of accessing the machine. The company has also updated its safety practices, explicitly stating that staff must never bypass safety barriers, with disciplinary action as a consequence for non-compliance.
This story was originally published by HSE Media Centre.
