Potato farm worker died after being dragged under machinery as firm fined

Daily Record

21-05-2025

Adam Currie, 24, was a part-time seasonal worker.
A Scots potato farm has been fined for health and safety failings over the "tragic" death of a part-time worker who was killed during a shift on the premises.
Adam Currie was working at Mains of Melrose Farm, Gamrie, Aberdeenshire, when tragedy struck and his clothes became trapped in machinery.
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The 24-year-old was dragged in and became wedged under a conveyor belt, with his hood trapped in the roller. The details emerged during a hearing at Inverness Sheriff Court.
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Family-owned potato farming partnership Melrose Farms pled guilty to a breach of health and safety legislation. The court heard his clothing became entangled with the rollers on the underside of the conveyor.
The procurator fiscal said the fatal incident happened on Monday, November 13, 2023, at around 9.10am, while Mr Currie was grading and boxing potatoes delivered by conveyor.
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A passing colleague noticed there was an excess of potatoes on the conveyor and that the belt had stopped. He shouted at Mr Currie but received no reply.
On investigation he found Mr Currie wedged under the conveyor belt, trapped by his hood in the roller mechanism. Efforts were made to give him CPR by colleagues and police.
Paramedics using advanced life support managed to obtain a pulse before he was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Mr Currie died during the evening of 16 November and with the consent of his family a number of organs were donated.
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The HSE investigation found that workers had received training in the operation of the machinery and the systems of work to be followed. Risk assessments were in place for routine tasks and employees knew how to stop the machines.
The investigation was unable to determine why Mr Currie had gone below the conveyor but did find that the farm failed to take effective measures to prevent anyone coming into contact with dangerous moving parts of the machinery.
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Following the incident the farm fitted the machine's rollers with fixed guards and fitted mesh guards to prevent access to the underside of the conveyer.
The firm was fined £20,000 for the offence. Speaking after the sentencing, Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations for the COPFS, said: "The death of Adam Currie is a tragic loss for his family and friends.
"They have my deepest sympathies. The risks associated with return rollers on conveyors are a well-documented hazard and should be securely guarded to prevent access and entanglement.
"This prosecution serves to highlight the consequences of failing to do so and I would urge other employers to take action to ensure their employees lives are endangered."
The firm admitted breaching Regulations 11(1) and (2) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Section 33(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday and ordered to also pay a £1,500 victim surcharge.