On 28 June 2023, David Wood severed the little finger on his left hand while conducting maintenance work at an ADM Milling site on Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Wood, who was 59 at the time of the incident, had been working on a packer closing station when the 800kg machine became unbalanced and tipped backwards, trapping his left hand and resulting in his finger being severed.
The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which found that ADM Milling had failed to safely manage the risks facing the people performing maintenance at its factory.
The firm had been required to fully assess the task that the injured person was assigned, to ensure that his health and safety was not put at risk.
After the investigation, ADM Milling pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.
The Northamptonshire-based company was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £7,517 in costs at Northampton Magistrates Court on 4 June 2025.
“This incident was wholly avoidable,” said HSE inspector Abbey Hodson.
“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 enforcement lawyer Samantha Wells and paralegal officer Helen Hugo.
ADM Milling is the UK arm of food ingredients giant ADM, and operates flour mills across the UK in addition to a technical centre in Avonmouth near Bristol.
The firm provides a wide range of flours and bakery ingredients to the UK baking and food industry.
Food Manufacture has reached out to ADM Milling for comment.
