Apprentice injured at milling machine: Federal Court upholds trainer's conviction

03/07/2026 · Federal Supreme Court (2nd Criminal Law Division) · Bezirk Brugg (AG) · Seriously injured · 7B_1323/2024

What happened The day before, the apprentices had used the mill for the first time under supervision. On the day of the accident the trainer was away. An apprentice's glove was caught and pulled in by the rotating cutter.

What the court decided Convicted by Brugg District Court (2022) and Aargau High Court (2023, sentence reduced); Federal Court dismissed the appeal – final.

Why Youth-protection rules require constant supervision by a skilled person when apprentices use dangerous machines. The accident was foreseeable for the trainer; the apprentice's own fault (gloves on a rotating machine) does not relieve him.

• Apprentice trainer: convicted of serious bodily harm by negligence, 50 day-fines of CHF 180 (total CHF 9,000), suspended + fine CHF 1,500. Let apprentices work the mill unsupervised while he was away.

Young workers on dangerous machines need constant supervision by a skilled person. If you are away, arrange a stand-in or the machine stays off.

Source: Bundesgericht (Entscheid) (DE) · Aargauer Zeitung (DE)