Firm Admits Regulatory Lapses in 2014 Grain Silo Death Case

Larchwood Foods at Hall Farm pled guilty to one charge of breaching safety and health regulations in a hearing at a U.K. court over the 2014 grain engulfment death of a worker, the Eastern Daily Press of Norwich, England reported Feb. 8.

21-year-old Arthur Mason, a university student who was working at the site during his summer break, died at the company’s facility in Fincham on July 9, 2014 after being buried by tons of wheat while cleaning a grain silo.

His father, Hugh Mason, is the owner of the company, which produces rapeseed wheat and sugar beet. As Powder & Bulk Solids reported in 2014, seven fire and rescue crews responded to the scene where the younger Mason was pronounced dead.

An inquest in March 2016 determined that Mason’s death was an accident, and that limited risk assessments and a shortage of training were contributing factors in the incident, according to coverage by the Lynn News of Kings Lynn. The court found that Mason only received about five or six hours of health and safety training prior to starting work.

The judge scheduled sentencing for March 10, the Eastern Daily Press said.

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