Farm fined after 2024 chicken conveyor accident verdict

Duncan Farms Limited was convicted after a 36-year-old employee became trapped in conveyor belt machinery while working at Mains of Auchenbadie Farm near Banff.

The worker was cleaning on October 15, 2024, when he heard a strange noise from an egg collection conveyor.

Ignoring his training to stop the machinery first, he climbed into the space between two manure conveyor belts to check.

His clothing got caught, but a colleague managed to stop the machine using an emergency stop button.

The man was hospitalised and found to have nerve damage in both arms.

His right arm only regained full function after three months.

He returned to work in February 2025 and is still employed by the company.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated and found that although the company had risk assessments covering entanglement hazards and had instructed employees to wear close-fitting clothing, they had not put in fixed or interlocking guarding at the drive end of the manure conveyors.

This could have prevented access to the dangerous parts of the machinery.

Employers are legally required under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) to take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.

Fixed or interlocking guarding is the most effective way to do this, according to the HSE.

Duncan Farms Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 11(1) and (2) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

They were fined at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on May 7, 2026.

Jurate Gruzaite, HM inspector of health and safety, said: "This incident could have had devastating consequences.

"I would urge all employers who use conveyor systems to review their guarding arrangements without delay."