Engineer loses life after being trapped in machine – inquest

AN engineer lost his life after being trapped while working on a farm machine, an inquest heard yesterday (Wednesday). Arthur Lawson, 50, was servicing a corn grinder at Cherry Green Farm, Westmill when he got trapped in the machine. A post-mortem examina

AN engineer lost his life after being trapped while working on a farm machine, an inquest heard yesterday (Wednesday).

Arthur Lawson, 50, was servicing a corn grinder at Cherry Green Farm, Westmill when he got trapped in the machine.

A post-mortem examination revealed he suffered severe injuries to his upper body including a severed arm and multiple rib fractures.

Taran Hewitt, a mechanical executive, said: "Mr Lawson was trapped between the upper shoot and draw bars.

"The machine was found to be in good electrical working order, but if something gets caught there's no mechanism to stop the machine and it would take considerable effort to stop it manually."

Heath and safety inspector Stephen Mannley said: "They are powerful machines and it would take a lot of force to stop the conveyers."

Mr Lawson was standing on a platform 13ft above the ground while servicing the machine.

Mr Mannley added: "There are two possibilites which may have cause the accident: part of Mr Lawson's clothing could have got caught in the machine or he could have lost his balance."

Det Insp Melanie Burn said there were no witnesses to the incident and as a result there was no reason for police to suspect his death was as a result of third party.

Coroner Edward Thomas, said: "Mr Lawson was good at his job, mechanically- minded and was a man many people had a high regard.

The jury recorded a verdict of accidental death.