A UK based flour company has been fined $400,000 after a maintenance worker severed one of his fingers in machinery.
The incident happened at ADM Milling Limited at its site on Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby in Northamptonshire on 28 June 2023.
David Wood, who was aged 59 at the time, had been carrying out maintenance work on a packer closing station. However, the 800-kilogram machine became unbalanced and tipped backwards, trapping his left hand. This resulted in the little finger on the hand being severed.
The incident was investigated by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which found the company had failed to safely manage the risks of people performing maintenance at its factory.
ADM Milling Limited were required to fully assess the task that the injured person was assigned, to ensure that his health and safety was not put at risk.
HSE guidance states that maintenance work needs to be correctly planned and carried out. Unsafe maintenance has caused many fatalities and serious injuries, either during the work or as a result of using badly/wrongly maintained machines. Further guidance can be found here: Maintenance of work equipment – HSE
ADM Milling Limited, of Brunel Road, Earlstrees Industrial Estate, Corby, Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the UK Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. The company was fined $400,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 approx in costs at Northampton Magistrates Court on 4 June 2025.
HSE inspector Abbey Hodson said: “This incident was wholly avoidable.
“The case should highlight to industry that all maintenance tasks, whether they are planned or unplanned, should be carefully assessed and reviewed to ensure that anyone under their control is protected from harm.
“Had this task been competently risk assessed, other control measures that prevented this incident would have been identified.”
The HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Samantha Wells and paralegal officer Helen Hugo.
Original Article can be found at: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/06/04/fine-for-flour-mill-after-workers-severs-finger/
Thanks to HSE.Gov.UK for original article.
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