According to the article in Wikipedia berberis berries are edible but very sharp tasting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis

If you're concerned you should phone the casualty (A&E) department of your local hospital, but it looks as though (s)he should be OK provided it was definitely berberis.

Hi Granton and welcome to GoY by now you would know if your workmate had been poisoned. That said do not eat the fruit of any plant unless you know it is not toxic!

Yes, Berberis and their close relatives Mahonia have edible berries.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), our only native member of the Berberis genus used to be used to make Barberry Jelly. The sharpness was good for greasy meats such as mutton, which is was often used for.