Bernard Matthews fined over 2 turkey plant injuries

U.K. turkey producer Bernard Matthews was fined GBP400,000 (US$452,580) and ordered to pay GBP15,000 in additional court costs after two workers were seriously injured in separate incidents at the company’s turkey plant in Suffolk.

Roy Graber Headshot
(ilixe48 | Bigstock)
(ilixe48 | Bigstock)

U.K. turkey producer Bernard Matthews was fined GBP400,000 (US$452,580) and ordered to pay GBP15,000 in additional court costs after two workers were seriously injured in separate incidents at the company’s turkey plant in Suffolk.

The company received those penalties after pleading guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Heath and Safety at Work Act, according to a press release from the U.K. Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

One man paralyzed

In the first incident, which occurred on January 28, 2020, employee Colin Frewin was tasked to clean a large screw conveyor used to move turkeys and chill them. While working on the gantry between the spin chillers, he noticed a turkey stuck at the bottom of it. According to a press release from the HSE, Frewin attempted to dislodge the turkey using a squeegee, and was drawn into the machine. After a co-worker noticed Frewin was missing from the gantry and heard cries for help, the emergency stop was pulled.

The HSE investigation found an unsafe system of work meant thee chillers remained running as Frewin attempted to dislodge the turkey.

In a statement offered to the HSE, Frewin said: “I will never walk again and so I will be in a wheelchair permanently. … I can’t socialize with my friends and family as much as I used to, as I can’t fit my wheelchair into their homes. Physical relationships are very hard as I can’t get out much. The accident has affected my life and my family’s lives.”

Frewin also described some other hardships the accident has caused, as he now has to wear a suprapubic catheter and requires daily bowel care from a nurse. He also had to move into a new home to accommodate his condition.

 Another man badly injured

In another incident, which occurred on August 12, 2019, a deboning line was shut down after “developing a fault,” and employees were moved to a surplus production line to continue the process.

According to the HSE, one of the wings became stuck in the belt under the machine, and employee Adriano Gama attempted to push it out of the way. In doing so, his gloved hand became caught in an exposed sprocket, and he was drawn into the machine. That incident left him with a broken arm and severe damage to his forearm muscles.

A HSE investigation discovered that on the day that incident happened, the only production line pre-start checks that were conducted were done on the lines that were used on a regular basis. The investigation further revealed that two safety guards had been removed. A team leader had earlier reported the absence of the safety guards to the engineering team, but the matter was never corrected.

HSE says accidents were avoidable

Following thee sentencing for the safety law violations, HSE Principal Inspector Adam Hills issued the following statement:

“Both incidents could have been avoided. The consequences were devastating for Mr. Frewin in particular. If Bernard Matthews had acted to identify and manage the risks involved and put a safe system of work in place they could have easily been prevented.

“Fundamentally, you should not clean a machine while it is running. Companies need to ensure that risk assessments cover activities including cleaning and blockages, and that where appropriate, robust isolation and lock off mechanisms are in place for these activities.

“Prior to use you can put in place some pre-start checks and if faults such as missing guards are identified they need to be formally reported, tracked, rectified and closed out.”

In 2016, Bernard Matthews was acquired by Ranjit Boparan for the Boparan Group from Rutland Partners. Two years later, 400 jobs were added at the Suffolk plant.

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