Michael Thomson, a former employee of Diageo, suffered severe burns to 30% of his body due to a workplace incident involving a faulty valve, which released 10,000 litres of 104-degree liquid.
Reported by the Northern Scot, the incident occurred at the Glenlossie Distillery near Elgin on 24 March 2021. Following the event, Thomson spent two weeks in intensive care and was placed in an induced coma.
Thomson endured serious injuries affecting his shoulders, arms, legs, and torso, resulting in a six-month absence from work. He ultimately made the decision to retire a year later.
In the aftermath, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) imposed a temporary shutdown of specific operations at the distillery while repairs on the faulty valve were conducted.
During a session at Inverness Sheriff Court, Diageo admitted to negligence, specifically failing to ensure that their work equipment was constructed and adapted safely, among other oversights.
As a result, the company, which owns renowned brands like Guinness and Johnnie Walker, was fined £537,500.
David Glancy, fiscal depute for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, clarified that no individuals were held accountable for the incident, attributing the failure to incorrect installation of the valve.
“[The valve] showed that the pump was closed when it was open,” Glancy noted, adding that “the valves on the pump were checked to be closed, but it was not noticed one had been incorrectly fitted. Mr. Thomson began to remove bolts from the pump to replace the seal, leading to a sudden release of 104 degrees liquid, the volume and force of which knocked him over.”
In response to the incident, a Diageo spokesperson stated: “The health and safety of our people is our number one priority, and we regret that this incident caused injury to a colleague. Following an extensive investigation, we have implemented an improved procedure for isolations, and the learning from this incident has been cascaded out to the wider business.”
