Accident a ‘rare exception’, Pelagia boss says

PELAGIA, the Norwegian owners of the Shetland Catch fish processing plant in Lerwick, has vowed to “work hard to avoid any employee’s injuries”.

The company has responded after being fined £450,000 at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday for a serious health and safety breach that left one employee with life-threatening injuries.

Supervisor Curtis New suffered broken ribs, two collapsed lungs, and a fractured clavicle and scapula when becoming entangled in a palletiser machine on 10 October 2024. His pelvis was also broken in five places.

The court heard on Wednesday that New had been “extremely fortunate to have survived” the accident.

The supervisor had removed a panel from a perimeter safety fence to clear a blockage from the machine, which he then accidentally triggered when standing on its conveyer belt.

The court also heard that Pelagia management did not know that an interlocking metal safety gate could be bypassed by removing a fencing panel, with New and another supervisor aware of how to remove the panel to get into the machine.

In statement made to Shetland News, Pelagia chief executive Egil Magne Haugstad said: “Pelagia has a clear vision that nobody should be damaged at work in any of our 28 locations. Unfortunately, the accident of our colleague in Shetland was a rare exception.

“Pelagia did not find any evidence of guilt from either management or business procedures, however with the intention not to bring this incident to a bigger event in court than necessary, we as a company pled guilty.

“Pelagia will pay the fine and continue to work hard to avoid any employee’s injuries.”

Our full court report from Wednesday can be read below.

Fish processing firm fined after worker suffers life-threatening injuries