Farmer death prompts warning for collapsing concrete panels

A coroner has called for farmers to be alerted to the dangers of using inappropriate methods of securing pre-cast concrete panels in sheds.

The warning follows the death of Dorset farmworker Jamie Paul Woods, who was crushed when a panel fell on him.

Mr Woods, 40, was working at Hawkins Farm, Caundle Marsh, near Sherbourne, in February 2021. He was in the collecting yard where cattle are held prior to milking.

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He was killed when the upper of two panels separating the yard from a straw storage area came away from its fixing.

An inquest heard that pre-cast concrete panels were used extensively on the farm, mainly as external walls to barns or sheds.

However, the two panels in question did not stretch between the two RSJs and instead of being fixed with metal brackets one side had been welded to hollow steel tubing, which was weaker.

Dorset coroner Brendan Allen, who recorded a conclusion of accidental death, has now issued a prevention of future deaths report to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The report said he was concerned to learn that farmers often moved pre-cast panels, weighing 800kg each, themselves and could use fixing measures that were less safe than professionals might use.

“A collapsing concrete panel poses a clear risk of death, given their weight,” he said.

Mr Allen said there appeared to be a lack of understanding of the importance of securing the panels in the optimum manner. 

Neither those working at Hawkins Farm nor those who subsequently inspected the site seemed to appreciate that the fixings used were weaker, he said.

“Publicising the risks and educating farmers of the risks of departing from the recognised method of fixing the pre-cast concrete panels may reduce the risk of future deaths,” he said.

The HSE has until 14 April to respond to the coroner’s concerns.