Worker’s finger severed during machine maintenance; ADM Milling fined £300K
ADM Milling Limited has been fined £300,000 after a maintenance worker severed his finger in an incident at its facility on Brunel Road, Earlstrees Industrial Estate, Corby, Northamptonshire. The incident occurred on June 28, 2023, when 59-year-old David Wood was performing maintenance on a packer closing station. During the task, the 800-kilogram machine tipped backwards, trapping his left hand and severing his little finger.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that ADM Milling Limited failed to safely manage the risks associated with maintenance work. The company had not fully assessed the assigned task to ensure the worker’s safety.
ADM Milling Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. On 4 June 2025, the company was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £7,517 in costs at Northampton Magistrates Court.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Abbey Hodson, HSE inspector, 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.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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