What happened
Samworth Brothers Limited was fined £594,000 after an employee and contractor suffered scald injuries while replacing a leaking gasket on steam pipework at its Kettleby Foods factory in Melton Mowbray. HSE found the task had not been adequately risk assessed, a documented safe system of work was absent, suitable isolation and lock-off procedures were not used, work at height controls were inadequate, and supervision and monitoring were insufficient.
Why it matters to food manufacturing engineers
Steam and hot-water maintenance is routine across food manufacturing but stored pressure and thermal energy can remain hazardous even when equipment appears shut down. The prosecution demonstrates that valve closure alone is not a sufficient engineering control where intrusive work is planned.
Operational impact
Sites should examine whether steam isolation arrangements include positive identification of the correct isolation points, lock-off, draining or venting where appropriate, proof of zero energy, suitable access, permit control and independent verification.
AFME perspective — what to watch
AFME interpretation: treat isolation as a verified physical state rather than an administrative step. Engineering Action: audit intrusive work on steam, hot-water and pressurised systems and verify isolation certificates, lock-off, bleed/drain arrangements, zero-energy proving, safe access and independent checking before work starts.