Stirlingshire-based James Jones & Sons (Pallets and Packaging) Limited has been fined £172,000 after a young worker sustained life-altering injuries when his arm became trapped in a pallet processing machine.
Livingston Sheriff Court heard that 22-year-old Tyresse Munjaranji has been left with a permanently shortened arm due to the incident, which took place at the Tesco Distribution Centre in Deans Industrial Estate, Livingston on 23 November 2023.
The court heard how Munjaranji became entangled in a moving drive shaft after bypassing an interlocked safety gate to clear shrink wrap from a pallet.
Instead of using the gate, which automatically isolates the machine’s power supply, he accessed the hazardous area through a broken section of perimeter fencing.
As a direct consequence of the incident, Munjaranji suffered mid-shaft fractures to his left humerus, radius and ulna, alongside a dislocated finger.
During surgery, doctors were forced to shave down a section of bone, leaving his left arm permanently shorter than his right.
He has been left with permanent scarring and an impaired range of motion.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Valerie Mays said the incident was a result of a temporary repair to an insecure section of safety fencing, which effectively misled observers.
As such, Munjaranji was able to gain access to the machine without triggering a shut-off safety switch.
In her judgment, the sheriff noted that the firm did have a robust safety record and had taken immediate measures following the incident.
As a result of James Jones & Sons (Pallets and Packaging) Limited’s sound record and early guilty plea, the initial headline fine was reduced from £240,000 to £160,000.
A compulsory victim surcharge of £12,000 brings the total penalty to £172,000, which the company must pay within three months.
