A man who had to have two fingers amputated was one of 29 staff in Scotland’s salmon farming industry seriously hurt in less than a year.
Shocking Health and Safety Executive figures reveal the accidents from March last year to January also included broken bones, concussions and lacerations.
They came after the 139 incidents since 2020 previously reported by the Sunday Mail, including the death of Clive Hendry, 58, crushed and drowned during a boat transfer near Kyle of Lochalsh in February 2020.
Despite being lobbied 110 times by representatives of the £1billion-a-year salmon industry over the last parliamentary term, the Scottish Government admits it never discussed health and safety.
View 3 ImagesClive Hendry was tragically killed at work
Sarah Woolley, general secretary of the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, said: “These figures show that, if anything, the number of accidents is increasing and the health and safety record of the industry is worsening, not improving.
“The regularity, severity and disproportionate number of workers reporting accidents in the salmon industry is why we are calling on the HSE to conduct an urgent review into the industry and for the Scottish and UK governments to push the industry more to improve health and safety practices.
“It is beyond disappointing that the Scottish Government admitted it never raised concerns about health and safety once during its many 110 meetings with Salmon Scotland and salmon companies.”
In one October 2025 HSE entry, Mowi revealed a worker had lost two fingers at its facility. He put his hand into a filleting machine to dislodge a trim of salmon belly fat on the edge of a conveyor belt.
It read: “In doing so, contact with fingers and moving parts occurred… Operator injured the middle and ring finger of the right hand resulting in amputation.”
It added the worker and his team leader will face disciplinary action over the safety lapse, while a site review of all machinery was made.
During the last parliament, the BFAWU criticised a Holyrood committee for failing to raise the issue of working conditions in an inquiry into the industry, which instead focused on eco and animal welfare concerns around fish farms.
View 3 ImagesSarah Woolley of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union
Woolley added: “We call on the Scottish Government in this session to remove its blinkers and listen much more to salmon workers and less to big business interests and their lobbyists.
“This new Parliament should mark the moment where, once and for all, the concerns of workers in the salmon industry are listened to and most importantly acted upon.”
Industry body Salmon Scotland said firms “comply fully with all workplace requirements, reporting obligations, and inspections”.
A spokesman added: “Companies continue to invest in training, technology, and safer systems to reduce risks further.
“With more than 200 salmon farming and processing sites across Scotland, serious workplace incidents remain low overall.
“Trade bodies, like trade unions, have a legitimate role in engaging with elected representatives, and we will continue to stand up for the 11,000 workers, businesses, and coastal communities who depend on the UK’s top food export and its most popular fish.”
The Scottish Government said health and safety is reserved to Westminster.
In a letter to the BFAWU earlier this year, ex-minister Richard Lochhead said: “Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives from salmon farming companies and Salmon Scotland on a range of devolved matters including work to streamline the salmon farming consenting process, improving fish health and welfare, reducing environmental impact, and support for innovation in the sector.
“I can confirm that the Scottish Government has not met with any salmon farming company or HSE in relation to the health and safety of workers across the industry.
“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting strong trade unions in Scotland for the benefit of workers and our economy.”
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