A Tragic Accident: Farm Worker's Death in Cornwall
On April 11, 2024, a devastating incident occurred in a cauliflower field near Trispen, Truro, Cornwall. Aleksej Kleinov, an experienced tractor driver and dedicated farm worker for SEF since 2014, lost his life while assisting a colleague. The inquest revealed a series of events that led to his tragic demise.
Kleinov, 34, was helping a younger and less experienced colleague with a mini packer, also known as a box rig, to hitch it to her tractor. During the process, the mini packer's link-up arms accidentally struck Kleinov, causing fatal injuries to his skull and neck. Despite his efforts to free himself, he collapsed a few steps away and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The inquest highlighted a series of factors that contributed to the accident. Renaldus Blaziunas, who trained some of the staff, including Kleinov's sister, Rugile Kuraite, noted that the mini packer is primarily used in winter when fields are wet. He admitted that the training process was informal, with trainers relying on HR's assessment of employees' readiness. This lack of formal training may have contributed to the incident.
Rugile Kuraite, Kleinov's sister, confirmed that she had not been trained to use the mini packer before the fatal incident. She recalled the day of the accident, where she had to line up the tractor and mini packer multiple times before Kleinov's intervention. The inquest also revealed that Gordon Stokes, the farm manager, believed that Kleinov's position between the trailer and tractor during the hitching maneuver was a deviation from the standard process, putting him in harm's way.
The aftermath of the tragedy led to significant changes at SEF. Safety and training procedures were tightened, and the use of mini packers was discontinued. The inquest is expected to conclude on February 3, 2026, with a focus on the circumstances surrounding Kleinov's death and the measures taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
