A paper packaging manufacturer has been fined £433,333 after an employee suffered life-changing injuries when a 4.5-tonne machine fell on him.
Matthew King, 39, was working for Multi Packaging Solutions UK Limited at its East Kilbride site in 2023 when he was struck on the head whilst working underneath the machine.
King sustained a severe skull fracture, bruising to his head and nerve damage to the left side of his face. He has been left with permanent double vision, loss of peripheral vision, facial palsy and hearing loss. He is also unable to drive and has required multiple surgeries and ongoing mental health support.
On the day of the accident, King was part of a team using an improvised system to move the machine using a forklift.
King was positioned underneath the suspended machine to secure a wheel on its underside when it slid from the forks and struck him on the head. The machine had already slid off the forks on at least two occasions before the incident.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the lifting operation had not been properly planned by a competent person. The characteristics of the load, including its weight, size, centre of gravity and lifting points, had not been adequately assessed, and no safe system of work had been put in place.
Multi Packaging Solutions UK was fined £433,333 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32,500 at Hamilton Sheriff Court on 20 January 2026.
HSE inspector, Ingrid Grueso, commented: “This incident was entirely preventable. The company failed to properly plan the lifting operation or implement a safe system of work.”
“Employers must ensure that lifting operations are properly planned by a competent person and carried out safely. This is especially important for non-routine tasks involving heavy or awkward loads.”