Incident Overview
A Larbert-based manufacturing company has been fined £160,000 following a serious workplace injury in which a worker's arm was trapped in a pallet processing machine for 45 minutes.
Tyresse Munjaranji, aged 22, was eventually freed by colleagues at James Jones & Sons (Pallets and Packaging) Ltd after the incident occurred in Livingston in November 2023.
The injury happened moments after Munjaranji bypassed a broken safety fence to clear shrink wrap from a pallet instead of using the lockable gate designed to cut power to the machine.
The company, registered in Larbert, was sentenced at Livingston Sheriff Court after admitting to breaching health and safety regulations.
The accident took place at the firm’s facility located within the Tesco Distribution Centre at Deans Industrial Estate, Livingston.
Severe Injury Details
The court was informed that Munjaranji’s arm became entangled in the moving parts of the pallet inspection line, resulting in severe injury, impairment, and permanent disfigurement.
He required surgical insertion of metal plates to repair broken bones and had a section of bone removed, leading to his left arm being shorter than his right.
The injuries also caused significant scarring and restricted movement in his arm.
The company admitted it failed to maintain a safe system of work by not ensuring the safety fence around the pallet inspection line was kept in a condition that prevented employees from accessing moving parts.
It also admitted to failing to guarantee that access was only through the interlocked gate at all times.
Temporary Repair and Court Findings
During sentencing, Sheriff Valerie Mays explained that the accident resulted from a temporary repair to a compromised section of the safety fence, which was done in a manner that was
"effectively deceiving the observer".
This allowed Munjaranji to reach the machine without activating the cut-off switch that would have stopped the moving parts, causing the injury.
The sheriff noted that the company, which employed 620 people at the time and reported a profit of £9.8 million, had no prior convictions and maintained a good safety record.
She acknowledged the company’s expression of remorse and immediate remedial actions, including a company-wide safety initiative.
However, Sheriff Mays emphasized that due to the failings, any employee working on the pallet line between 1 and 23 November 2023 was exposed to risk of harm.
The company was fined £160,000, reduced from £240,000 because of its early guilty plea, and was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £12,000.
