Egg Farm Convicted After Worker Caught In Running Conveyor Machinery

Brief Summary

A worker suffered serious nerve damage after clothing became entangled in in-running nip points on manure conveyors while the machinery was still operating. The investigation found that the employer had risk assessments and training on close fitting clothing, but had not installed fixed or interlocking guarding at the drive end to stop access to dangerous parts while the conveyors were running.

What Was The Incident?

During routine cleaning, a worker heard an unusual noise from an egg collection conveyor and, without stopping the machinery as trained, went into a confined area between two manure conveyor belts to investigate. His clothing was caught in the in running nip between a pressure roller and the underside of the upper manure conveyor belt. A colleague used an emergency stop button to halt the machinery and emergency services were called to free him.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 in relation to protecting people from dangerous parts of work equipment and to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £53,000 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 7 May 2026.

Key Points To Consider

Fit fixed or interlocking guarding on conveyors. Control access to dangerous nip points so people cannot reach them while the conveyor is running, with fixed or interlocking guarding as the primary measure.

Do not rely on training or clothing alone. Close fitting clothing and instructions are not enough when there is still access to in running dangerous parts of machinery.

Ensure effective protection at the drive end. Guarding arrangements must cover areas where people could access dangerous moving components, including at the drive end of conveyors.

Provide guarding that prevents access and stops before contact. The expectation is that arrangements either prevent access to dangerous parts or automatically stop the conveyor before a person can reach the hazard.

Review conveyor guarding and management arrangements promptly. Employers should review conveyor systems to confirm guarding is in place and effective for the specific risks identified, including entanglement hazards.

HSE Prosecution Link