HSEAn Alloa-based bottle maker has been fined £600,000 after an accident resulted in 10% of a worker’s body being burnt.
In February 2024, the 32-year-old employee was operating a shovel loader, clearing waste molten glass and hot water from the basement floor at the O-I Glass facility.
However, there was no protective door on the cab of the vehicle, so some of the materiel spilt on the worker, burning 8% of his body.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed the worker made a full recovery following the incident.
HSE said the “avoidable ordeal” need not have happened if a protective door had been fitted to the vehicle.
The company was fined £600,000 at Stirling Sheriff Court on September 23, after admitting breaching health and safety legislation.
HSE inspector Kathy Gostick said: “This was an avoidable ordeal for a young worker. It is sheer luck he has been able to recover from his serious injuries.
“This company’s employees worked in this environment with a safety critical part of the loader missing for a period of almost two years.
“Although the protective front door had been removed and reported to the on-site engineer, drivers had continued to work and operate the loader with it missing.
“Some operatives even described being struck or having footwear burnt by molten glass falling into the cab as a result.”
She continued: “When work equipment is being selected, its suitability for the environment it is going to be used in must be risk assessed.
HSE“In this case the protective door was not suitable to protect against impacts from hot and molten glass and therefore was often broken and in the end never replaced. Had an appropriate door been selected and maintained in place this accident would not have occurred.”
A spokesman for the company said: “O-I Glass Limited appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court in relation to a health and safety matter at its Alloa facility.
“The company accepted responsibility and co-operated fully and openly with the investigating authorities and the court. Legal proceedings have now concluded.
“O-I acted swiftly in implementing enhanced measures and is committed to maintaining the highest safety standards at all times across its operations.”
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