Power Plane Limited, a Leicestershire road planing contractor, has been fined £92,450 after one of its employees suffered a life-changing injury, resulting in the amputation of his leg. The incident occurred on 14 February 2024, when the worker became entangled in a road milling machine at Wade Road in Basingstoke. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £6,781 at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court on 13 May 2026.
Employee’s leg amputated after entanglement in unguarded milling machine
The 32-year-old employee was operating a road milling machine when his foot became caught by the rotating milling drum, dragging him into the dangerous machinery. Emergency services were called to the scene, where they had to amputate his right leg to free him from the machine. This immediate and drastic intervention underscored the severity of the incident and the critical danger the worker faced.
The catastrophic injury has left the worker with profound and lasting consequences. He was unable to work for more than a year following the incident and continues to grapple with long-term mental and physical effects. These include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), persistent pain, and the significant challenge of adapting to life with a lifelong disability. The incident has irrevocably altered his life, highlighting the devastating human cost of workplace safety failures.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that Power Plane Limited had failed to implement effective measures to prevent access to the hazardous rotating milling drum of the road planing machine. Crucially, the manufacturer’s ‘protective bow’, specifically designed to restrict access to this dangerous component, had not been attached to the machine at the time of the incident. The investigation further uncovered that it was common practice for the company to operate its milling machines without this essential guard fitted, indicating a systemic failure in safety protocols.
HSE guidance explicitly states that employers are legally obligated to take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. Furthermore, mobile work equipment must be used strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s health and safety instructions. These guidelines are fundamental to ensuring worker safety and preventing foreseeable accidents involving machinery. The absence of the protective guard directly contravened these established safety principles.
Power Plane Limited, based at Highway House, Asfare Business Park, Hinckley Road, Hinckley, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. This regulation mandates that employers ensure work equipment is fitted with appropriate guards or protection devices to prevent access to dangerous parts. The court’s decision to impose a substantial fine reflects the seriousness of the breach and the severe consequences for the employee.
HSE inspector Peter Crees commented on the case, stating: “Every year, a significant proportion of accidents, many of them serious or fatal, are caused by poorly guarded work equipment. This was a wholly avoidable incident, caused by a failure to guard dangerous parts. Had the company simply fitted the manufacturer’s guard to the machine, this life-changing injury could have been prevented.” His statement underscores the preventability of the incident and the critical importance of adhering to basic machinery guarding principles.
This prosecution serves as a stark reminder to all employers of their legal and moral obligations to ensure the safety of their workforce. The failure to fit readily available safety guards, especially when it is a known common practice within an organisation, demonstrates a severe lapse in duty that can lead to catastrophic and life-altering injuries. Prioritising robust safety measures and adhering to manufacturer guidelines is paramount to preventing such tragic incidents in the future.
Originally published by the Health and Safety Executive.
