A pallet-repair company operating in West Lothian has been fined £172,000 for health and safety failings that left a 22-year-old worker with severe injuries, impairment, and permanent disfigurement.
James Jones & Sons (Pallets and Packaging) Limited, which was operating at the Tesco Distribution Centre on Deans Industrial Estate in Livingston, pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Investigation reveals safety lapses
Prosecutors told Livingston Sheriff Court that an investigation by the local authority found the Larbert-based company failed to maintain critical safety barriers and allowed unsafe practices to develop and persist.
Debbie Carroll, who leads health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “A broken safety barrier and poor supervision meant a worker could enter dangerous machinery while it was still running.
“The resulting accident was foreseeable and could have been avoided if the company had properly maintained and enforced the existing safe system of work.
“This prosecution should remind employers that failing to fulfil their obligations can have serious consequences and that they will be held accountable for such failures.”
The incident
The court heard that on the evening of November 23, 2023, the employee was working on a mechanised pallet inspection and repair line. The line was enclosed by perimeter fencing and an interlocked gate that stopped the machine when opened. However, entry to the restricted area could be made through a loose fence panel, allowing access to moving machinery.
During that evening’s shift, after initially following correct safety procedures to access the machinery, the employee entered the restricted area through the loose fencing while the machinery remained in operation. While attempting to remove obstructions from the line, he became entangled in the moving parts of the equipment.
Colleagues stopped the machine and emergency services attended. He was freed after approximately 45 minutes and taken to hospital, where he was treated for multiple arm fractures and other serious injuries. He has since undergone surgery, and his movement remains impaired.
This incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining safety barriers and enforcing safe working practices in industrial environments.
