An investigation has been launched into the death of a 19-year-old man at an egg farm in Leicestershire by local police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Police said that the incident occurred at around 4:15p.m. on the afternoon of April 12, at Sunrise Farm near Sileby.
Both the East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Police were called to the farm.
The 19-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene.
The HSE have since visited the farm and have confirmed that an investigation has been launched.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: “At about 4:15p.m. on Monday, April 12, officers received a report from East Midlands Ambulance Service about an incident at a farm on Seagrave Road, Sileby.
“Officers attended and a 19-year-old man sadly died at the scene.
“Enquiries are ongoing,” the statement concluded.
258 agri-food worker deaths linked to Covid-19
As was revealed by Agriland in February, the number of agri-food workers who have died in England and Wales within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test last year totalled 258.
The analysis is based on figures compiled by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and includes farmers; agricultural and horticultural managers and business owners; farmworkers; agricultural machinery drivers; agricultural workers not classified elsewhere; and agri-food production workers.
No Covid-related deaths were recorded for veterinarians in 2020.
A total of 168 deaths for the over-65 age group, and a further 90 deaths for those aged 20 to 64 were recorded.
The analysis carried out by Agriland is based on provisional data from the ONS, which came with the caveat that numbers could increase as more deaths are registered.
It is important to note that while the data covers all deaths where Covid-19 was detected, it does not, however, disclose instances where other factors also contributed to a death.
Across all occupations, a total of 5,128 deaths of 20 to 64-year-olds were recorded, 90 of which worked in the agri-food sector.
Despite millions being spent on Covid-19 measures across UK and Irish food processing plants, the low-temperature, moist environments in many have remained conducive to the spread of the virus.
Out of all the agri-food occupations listed, food and drink processing workers had the highest risk of dying after contracting Covid-19.
More than 75 workers at Banham poultry plant in Norfolk tested positive in August, while at least 58 cases were confirmed at the 2 Sisters chicken factory in Llangefni, Anglesey, in June. Several other factories were also forced to close as a result of clusters.
The number of farmer and farmworker deaths combined totalled 79, while 148 food and drink processing worker deaths were recorded.
