Knowles Logistics has been fined £133,000 after an employee suffered serious injuries when he fell from a sugar beet conveyor.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the worker was loading the crop for transport using the conveyor at Knowles Logistics in November 2023 when the system became blocked with waste product.
The employee climbed up the side of the conveyor to clear the blockage and fell, suffering multiple injuries including broken ribs, a punctured lung and liver damage.
An HSE investigation found that the conveyor system became blocked multiple times during a shift and often these blockages could only be cleared by climbing up the side of the machine and removing the obstruction by hand.
The worker fell while loading sugar beet for transport
Source: HSE
There was no safe system of work in place for clearing blockages.Knowles Logistics pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and it was fined £133,000 and ordered to pay £5,438 in costs at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.
HSE Inspector Natalie Prince said: “Falls from height are one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries. This was a wholly avoidable incident that led to a worker being seriously injured.”
A Knowles Logistics spokeswoman said the safety and well-being of its employees was of paramount importance: “Following an incident two years ago within the farm division in which a machinery operator sustained injuries whilst falling in an attempt to clear a blockage within the system, we have taken comprehensive steps to review and strengthen our safe systems of work and operational procedures,” she said.
“From the outset we supported our employee, provided care and assistance whilst also working closely with the relevant authorities, including the HSE, supporting their investigations which was recognised at the hearing.”
The spokeswoman added: “It was also recognised that the business has an excellent safety record across all divisions with no previous HSE prosecutions in the 94 years of establishment resulting in a significantly reduced fine.
“We pride ourselves on our health and safety record and remain committed to ensuring that we maintain a safe and supportive environment for all members of our team.”
