Worker Choked Unconscious In Conveyor Belt Entrapment At Scottish Factory

In a shocking incident in Scotland’s Fife, a worker named Remigiusz Cyrek was choked unconscious after he was dragged into a carrot baton machine by the hood of his jacket because of safety failures at the workplace. 

Kettle Produce, which runs a facility at Orkie Farm near Freuchie in Fife, faces a hefty fine because of this tragic incident. Kettle Produce has admitted in the court about the safety failures at the workplace.

On Wednesday, Kettle Produce told the court it had failed to ensure the safety of the workers between August 2017 and June 2018.

What happened to the worker?

Remigiusz Cyrek, a Polish national, was a hygiene worker at the Kettle Produce facility at Orkie Farm near Freuchie in Fife. He was unable to work for six months after the tragic incident. He had been employed as a hygiene worker since 21 August 2017.

Remigiusz Cyrek wanted to clean the machine’s conveyor belt and rollers. However, the hood of his waterproof jacket got caught in the roller. This led to a loss of consciousness. He was found unconscious under the conveyor. The worker suffered severe swelling and bruising to his neck. 

Fiscal depute Gail Adair told Dundee Sheriff Court, “He was off work for six months and then returned to light duties. He continued to have pain in his hand.” Gail Adair said that the company failed to have a safe system at the workplace.

Counsel for the company, Barry Smith, said that Remigiusz Cyrek was a “valued employee” for Kettle Produce. 

Workplace injuries through conveyor belts have become common in recent days. Last week, a robot killed factory worker in South Gyeongsang province in South Korea after the machine horrifically pushed him against the conveyor belt. The robot, which was lifting boxes filled with vegetables, identified the worker as a box. The police said it would launch an investigation against the company.

Previously, a South Korean worker, in his 50s, suffered injuries after getting trapped by a machine at an automobile parts manufacturing plant.