Tragic Death of Cumbria Farm Worker Preventable by Basic Safety Measure
A 61-year-old man was strangled to death when his clothing became entangled in farm machinery, with a subsequent investigation revealing his life could have been saved by a missing 50 pence screw. Alban Watts, who lived in the village of Blencow, died on 11 January 2023 while working for egg producer Bell Mount Farming Limited in Great Salkeld, Penrith, Cumbria.
Corporate Failure and Legal Consequences
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation determined that Mr Watts' clothes were caught in an unguarded rotating sprocket of a hen feeding system. The machine operated in three-minute intervals throughout the day but remained stationary between feeding periods. Bell Mount Farming Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 at Warrington Magistrates' Court.
The company was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £6,038 in costs. The HSE found the protective barrier designed to prevent access to dangerous machinery parts was improperly fitted and could be easily removed. Critical findings included stripped bolt holes in the guard and misaligned holes between the guard and the frame, preventing proper securing.
A Family's Grief and Anger
Alban's siblings, Martin Watts and Louise Robinson, expressed their profound sadness and anger, stating their brother's death was easily preventable. They said: 'Losing Alban has taken a part of our trio. Not a day goes by where he is not missed.' They highlighted the bitter irony that 'his life was worth less than a 50p screw to a multi-million-pound company.'
Alban had worked at Bell Mount for 12 years and was described by his mother, Noreen, as an accomplished mechanic, joiner and carpenter. She called his death 'cruel' and expressed the horror of 'hearing such an awful death,' adding she now faced 'every parent's nightmare of surviving their own child.' She emphasised: 'Above all, I want lessons to be learnt from this tragedy.'
HSE's Stern Warning on Machinery Safety
Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Matthew Shepherd stated: 'What is most tragic about this case is the failure of the company was such a basic and simple one. What was such an easy fault to fix cost a much-loved man his life.' He stressed that preventing access to dangerous machinery parts is a well-known and long-standing requirement of any health and safety management system.
Inspector Shepherd warned: 'We will not hesitate to take action against companies which do not do all that they should to keep people safe.' The case underscores the devastating consequences that can result from the most basic failures in workplace safety protocols and machinery maintenance.
