JCB accident 'could and should have been prevented'

An accident on a site at Daylesford Organic Farm which cost an employee his life "could and should have been prevented", a lawyer claims.

Worker Anthony Cripps died after falling from the bucket of a JCB he was riding in while being driven by an untrained driver and was crushed to death.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell represents the employee's family and partner at the company Stuart Henderson claims the accident was a "particularly horrific workplace fatality".

He alleges safety measures were not adequately followed and says this led to the man's death.

"In our view, the accident would have been prevented if safe working practices had been followed and a suitable platform or similar equipment provided," he claims.

He says adequate health and safety training was not "given the attention it deserved" and describes allowing a worker to be carried in the bucket of a JCB as "patently" unsafe.

Mr Cripps' family will be pursuing damages from the company and Mr Henderson says the evidence heard at the inquest, which held the incident to be an accidental death, supports the claim.

Daylesford Organic Farm specialises in providing seasonal and local produce, including vegetables.