Groundsman Fatally Crushed Beneath Tractor‑Mounted Mower at Aberdeenshire Farm

Basic Incident Information

• Date of incident: June 2023

• Location: Farm near Westhill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, operated by BA Events Ltd

• Victim: Andrew Soutar, 53, groundsman

• Incident type: Crush fatality involving tractor‑mounted finishing mower during field work/possible maintenance

Incident Description

Mr. Soutar was cutting grass in a field with a tractor and Major finishing mower while the farm owner, Allan Brownie, went to a blacksmith. On returning, Mr. Brownie saw the tractor on a hill but could not see Mr. Soutar, and on closer inspection found him trapped under the mower unit. He attempted unsuccessfully to lift the mower before emergency services arrived.

Paramedics attended but Mr. Soutar was pronounced dead at the scene. A post‑mortem determined the cause of death as crush asphyxia due to compression of the chest by heavy agricultural equipment.

Inquiry Findings and Technical Factors

A Fatal Accident Inquiry at Aberdeen Sheriff Court concluded that Mr. Soutar’s death could not reasonably have been avoided and made no recommendations. Sheriff Rhona Wark found no defects in the system of work at BA Events Ltd and no reasonable precaution available to the employer that would realistically have prevented the accident.

Evidence from an HSE specialist suggested that Mr. Soutar may have:

• Raised the mower after hearing a noise, then

• Begun work underneath the raised mower without additional mechanical support or props,
  after which a hydraulic fault developed, causing the mower to descend and trap him. The sheriff noted that Mr. Soutar was considered experienced and safety‑conscious, and that working under the raised mower without a prop was uncharacteristic.

Preliminary Learnings and Safety Focus (for EntirelySafe publication)

Even though the court made no formal recommendations, the case highlights important agricultural machinery safety themes:

• Never rely solely on hydraulic systems to support raised implements; always use appropriate mechanical props, stands, or supports before working beneath raised agricultural equipment.

• Ensure that workers, including experienced operators, are regularly reminded through training and toolbox talks of the dangers of working under hydraulically supported loads and of the need to follow lock‑out/support procedures.

• Maintain tractors and hydraulic systems to minimise the risk of sudden lowering due to faults; incorporate pre‑use checks for leaks, creeping hydraulics, or unstable implements.

• When working alone in fields, establish check‑in arrangements and clear rules prohibiting access beneath raised implements without proper supports to reduce the likelihood and consequence of single‑person fatalities.

Status

• Fatalities: 1 (Andrew Soutar, 53).

• Injuries: None others reported.

• Legal outcome: Fatal Accident Inquiry concluded no avoidable defects in the system of work and issued no recommendations; cause attributed to crush asphyxia from the mower descending following a probable hydraulic fault while the victim was beneath it without additional support.