Tragic Death on Cumbrian Farm
A farm worker died in a horrific accident after his clothing became entangled in unguarded machinery at an egg production unit in Cumbria. Alban Watts, 61, from Blencow, was working alone in a poultry shed for Bell Mount Farming Limited in Great Salkeld, Penrith, on January 11, 2023.
The fatal incident occurred during one of the automated feeding periods. Mr Watts's clothes were caught by an exposed rotating sprocket on the drive mechanism of the hen feeder, leading to fatal injuries.
Family's Anguish and a Simple Fix
Mr Watts's mother, Noreen, expressed her profound grief, stating that 'lessons must be learned' from her son's tragic death. She described the horror of hearing about his 'awful death' and the nightmare of outliving her own child.
His brother, Martin Watts, and sister, Louise Robinson, voiced their anger, stating that his life was seemingly valued at less than 'the cost of a 50 pence screw'. They highlighted that a simple, inexpensive fix could have prevented the tragedy, lamenting that 'You can’t replace a person who meant so much to us.'
The family remembered Alban as an accomplished mechanic, joiner, and carpenter who had worked at Bell Mount for 12 years and enjoyed his job.
HSE Investigation and Company Prosecution
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the guard designed to prevent access to the dangerous sprocket was not properly fixed. The guard could simply be lifted off because the bolt holes were stripped and did not align with the frame, making it impossible to secure.
The feeding system operated for three-minute periods throughout the day but was motionless otherwise. The HSE concluded that the company failed in its duty to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, a fundamental requirement of health and safety law.
Bell Mount Farming Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on November 20, 2025. The company was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £6,038 in costs.
Following the hearing, HSE inspector Matthew Shepherd said: 'What is most tragic about this case is the failure of the company was such a basic and simple one... Preventing access to dangerous parts of machinery is a well-known and long-standing part of any health and safety management system.'
