WHISKY giant Diageo has been fined more than half a million pounds after a worker suffered severe burns at a Scottish distillery.
The company was fined £537,500 after admitting at Inverness Sheriff Court to breaching health and safety laws at Glenlossie Distillery near Elgin.
The accident took place on March 24, 2021.
Michael Thomson, an employee at the distillery, suffered burns to 30% of his body after he was engulfed in 10,000 litres of 104-degree pot ale.
An incorrectly fitted valve burst off, and the liquid poured over him.
Thomson was in intensive care for two weeks as well as an induced coma. He was off work for six months, and retired over a year later.
Diageo pled guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to ensure work equipment was safely constructed or adapted, failing to provide a safe system of working and failing to ensure valves were correctly fitted, isolated and cleaned.
Diageo was said to express "regret and offered sincere apologies to Mr Thomson who was a long and valued employee”. It was further revealed a civil claim is in process.
HSE inspector Isabelle Martin said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by ensuring that procedures were in place to ensure that changes to work equipment installed in the plant were safe. However, more importantly Diageo should have had procedures in place to ensure that plant could be isolated safely and prevent the release of hazardous and dangerous substances.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
