Worker strangled unconscious while cleaning carrot baton machinery
- Published
Kettle Produce admitted safety failures at its Orkie Farm facility in Fife
A food company has admitted failures that led to one of its workers being strangled on a machine that makes carrot batons.
Remigiusz Cyrek was choked unconscious after being dragged into the machine and trapped by a giant roller.
Kettle Produce admitted failing to ensure the safety of staff at its Orkie Farm facility near Freuchie, Fife, from August 2017 to June 2018.
The company, which has a £150m turnover, faces a substantial fine.
Mr Cyrek, a Polish national, had been employed as a hygiene operative with the company since 21 August 2017.
The 37-year-old was unable to work for six months after the injury.
Fiscal depute Gail Adair told Dundee Sheriff Court that the conveyor belt and rollers should have been isolated and completely switched off before the weekly clean.
Tangled jacket
She said: "[Mr Cyrek] was undertaking the weekly clean of the carrot baton line. He began pressure washing the line. It was running at the time and the driven roller was turning.
"This was a rotating power roller. The hood of his waterproof jacket got caught in the roller, causing it to tighten round his neck and lead to a loss of consciousness.
"The other hygiene operative found him unconscious under the conveyor, with the hood of his jacket tangled in the roller. Others became aware of that operative screaming at them.
"They ran to the central cabin and switched off the line. They freed him by manually feeding the roller to free his clothing."
The prosecutor told the court that Mr Cyrek was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital with severe swelling and bruising to his neck. He suffered a loss of feeling in his fingertips.
"He was off work for six months and then returned to light duties. He continued to have pain in his hand."
Ms Adair said the firm failed to have a safe system of work.
Counsel for the company, Barry Smith, said Kettle Produce "very sincerely regret this accident occurred" and that Mr Cyrek was a "valued employee".
He said the company, which was founded in 1976 and has 1,100 staff, was a market leader in the prepared vegetable sector and was a "large company" in terms of turnover.
He added: "There was a system, and had it been followed properly, it would have ensured safety.
"Clear instruction was not universally understood and followed. It is accepted the company fell short of the required standard."
He urged the court to take Covid-affected losses of over £4m over the last two financial years into account when deciding the scale of the fine to impose.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown deferred sentence for consideration of the level of fine to impose and said: "I think the injured person in this case has been very fortunate."