Industry news
Fatal farm accident goes to trial
Posted Tue, 14 Feb 2012
Two men are set to go on trial for health and safety offences relating to the death of a founder member of the Electric Light Orchestra.
Michael Edwards, 62, who was cellist in the 1970s pop group, was killed instantly when a 63-stone bale of silage rolled across a steep field and hit his moving van on the A381 near Totnes in Devon.
The former musician was in his bottled-water delivery van when the bale hit on September 3, 2010. Despite the efforts of a doctor - who was stuck in the resulting traffic, and a local GP - he died from massive head injuries.
Farmer Brian Burden, 47, of Bickleigh Farm, Halwell, and contractor Russell Williams, 23, of Forces Cross, Blackhawton, have both denied two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act at Plymouth Crown Court. The charges allege that they failed to ensure the safety of people at the scene and failed to carry out a risk assessment for the work.
Copyright Press Association 2012