Builders liability insurance holders have been warned about the dangers of working with drilling machines after the prosecution of a firm.
Briggs of Burton, from Burton-on-Trent, was fined £5,000 with £1,922 in costs after it pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Burton-on-Trent Magistrates Court heard how in March 2009 an employee was using a pillar drill when the left arm of his overalls became entangled around the rotating part.
The worker became trapped by the machine, unable to reach the off switch, and suffered a broken finger and cuts to his arms.
Gail Pannell, Health and Safety Executive inspector, said that the dangers of using these machines without a guard is well-documented.
"The employee was very fortunate the drill wasn’t operating at a higher speed or his injuries could have been much worse," she added.
Earlier this month, Thor Hammer Company was fined after an employee suffered severe injuries when his hand was caught in an industrial drill.