A packaging company has been prosecuted and fined over £400,000 after an employee suffered life-changing head injuries in an “entirely preventable” incident.
Multi Packaging Solutions UK Limited manufactures paper packaging and Matthew King was working at their East Kilbride site when a 4.5-ton machine fell on him on 31st October 2023.
The 39-year-old had been working underneath the machine at the time, and it struck him on the head. He sustained a severe skull fracture, bruising to his head and nerve damage to the left side of his face.
These injuries have left him with permanent damage, including double vision, loss of peripheral vision, facial palsy and hearing loss. He can no longer drive and has had to undergo multiple surgeries and requires ongoing mental health support.
Worker’s permanent injuries caused by unsafe lifting operations
The incident occurred when Mr King was part of a team relocating the machine from a warehouse to a storage area approximately 160 metres away.
The heavy and large machine had no lifting or anchoring points, so workers improvised a system to lift the machine using a forklift, placing skates underneath and pulling it forward. On at least two previous occasions, the machine had slid off the forks.
On 31st October 2023, Mr King was positioned underneath the suspended machine in order to secure a wheel on its underside when it once again slid off the forks and struck him on the head, causing his permanent injuries.
A subsequent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the lifting operation had not been properly planned by a competent person and therefore the characteristics of the load, such as its weight, size, centre of gravity and lifting points, had not been adequately assessed and a safe system of work was lacking.
It is vital that lifting operations are properly resourced, planned and organised to ensure they are carried out safely.
Employers plead guilty to breaching the law
Multi Packaging Solutions UK Limited, based in Nottingham, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on 20th January 2026, where they pleaded guilty to breaching the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
They were fined £433,333 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32,500.
Commenting on the case, HSE Inspector Ingrid Grueso said the incident was “entirely preventable,” and added:
“The company failed to properly plan the lifting operation or implement a safe system of work.
“Mr King has been left with life-changing injuries including permanent damage to his eyesight, hearing and facial movement. He has had to sell his car as he can no longer drive safely and now relies on his wife to transport him and their three children.
“Employers must ensure that lifting operations are properly planned by a competent person and carried out safely. This is especially important for non-routing tasks involving heavy or awkward loads.”
The HSE provides clear guidance on planning and organising lifting operations.
Training to prevent workplace injuries
First Response Training (FRT) is one of the UK’s largest and leading national training providers.
They deliver a wide and diverse range of training for businesses and organisations across all industry sectors and throughout the UK. Their course range includes training in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, mental health, food safety, health and social care and more.
Their health and safety training is mapped to UK standards and legislation and follows HSE guidelines. The portfolio includes courses such as Health and Safety, Managing Health and Safety, Risk Assessment, Accident and Incident Investigation, and many more.
Based on a common sense, proportionate approach to workplace safety, training helps learners to understand the true benefits of creating a healthy and safe environment at work.
A trainer from FRT explains:
“Health and safety law is there to keep people healthy, safe and protected from harm as they carry out their work; this is the least that any employee should expect.
“It is important to ensure that you are up to date and well informed about health and safety legislation, guidance and best practice and that you have carried out suitable and sufficient risk assessments to identify hazards and risks in your workplace, and implemented suitable control measures to remove or reduce those risks. All risk assessments and associated control measures should be regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to protect people.
“This may sound simple, it may even sound boring or repetitive, but it is what keeps people safe and prevents serious incidents like this from occurring.”
For more information on any of the training courses that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or e-mail info@firstresponsetraining.com.