Young farmer killed in bale-wrapping machine incident
© Linda Bestwick/Adobe Stock A teenage male farmer has died following a tragic farming incident in south Devon.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released a statement saying the worker was trapped and killed in a bale-wrapping machine. His identity has not been made public.
The fatal incident happened on a farm in Plympton, a suburb of Plymouth, on 22 June.
See also: Focus on farm safety protocols as harvest season nears
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were contacted by the ambulance service on the evening of Wednesday 22 June following reports of a teenage male having sustained serious injuries while working at a farm in the Plympton area of Plymouth.
“The fire service, police, plus air and land ambulances all attended the scene, but tragically the male was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“His next of kin have been informed and this death is not currently being treated as suspicious. Due to the age of the male, police will support the Health and Safety Executive with their investigation into this matter.”
The HSE said the death is being treated as work-related, but will be subject to further assessment.
Working safely with agricultural machinery – Health and Safety Executive
The maintenance of machinery, in-field or otherwise, is a significant cause of death and injury in agriculture, the HSE says.
It has released the following safety guidance:
Before approaching any moving parts or starting any maintenance task, follow the safe stop procedure:
- Handbrake on
- Controls in neutral
- Engine off
- Keys out
Maintenance/adjustments must be carried out by someone with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to conduct the task safely.
Parts of the equipment that could fall or move must be secured.
Equipment/machinery should be maintained regularly, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Put in place procedures for damaged or faulty equipment to be reported.