Diageo fined after distillery worker suffers severe burns
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Drinks giant Diageo has been fined more than half a million pounds at Inverness Sheriff Court after a whisky distillery worker suffered burns when he was scalded by boiling liquid in a workplace accident.
On March 24, 2021, Michael Thomson was working at the Glenlossie Distillery near Elgin when an improperly fitted valve burst and released 10,000 litres of hot pot ale, which was 104C, on him.
Diageo has now pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to ensure work equipment was safely built or adapted, among other failures.
David Glancy, fiscal depute, said no blame was on any individual but that the valve had not been fitted properly.
He said: “It showed that the pump was closed when it was open. The valves on the pump were checked that they were closed but it was not noticed one had been incorrectly fitted. Mr Thomson began to remove bolts from the pump to replace the seal and there was a sudden release of 104 degrees liquid, the volume and force of which knocked him over.”
Peter Gray KC, defending, said Diageo “expressed regret and offered sincere apologies to Mr Thomson who was a long and valued employee”.
Sheriff Gary Aitken calculated Diageo’s culpability at the medium level and imposed a fine on it of £537,500.
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