Potential dangers of hay bailing

Medicolegal Implications of Fatalities Because of Entanglement in the Augers of Feed Mixer Wagons

“…Therefore, medicolegal investigations have to determine whether the action of augers was in fact responsible for the fatality and to confirm a cause-effect relationship between the dynamics of the accident and the fatal injuries inflicted by the dangerous moving parts of the mixer wagon upon the victim's body 20,28,41 …”

“…37 In cases of rapid onset of death, where there is insufficient time to generate an increase in the pressure in the capillary venules and because of sudden penetrating injuries to the chest, the ecchymotic mask may not appear. 3,4,9,12,13,19,20,28,[36][37][38][39][40] Obviously, in cases of asphyxial death caused when the chest is crushed by the knifeless upper augers before the thorax/abdomen is disrupted and/or dismemberment occurs due to the action of the lower augers (those equipped with knives), the margins of any cutting wounds must display evidence of vitality (to be confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry).…”

“…Coroners and forensic pathologists may be required to answer questions involving the whole dynamic profile of the accident to identify the circumstances surrounding the death, the traumatic injuries sustained and the ultimate cause of death. 20,28,41 Therefore, medicolegal investigations have to determine whether the action of augers was in fact responsible for the fatality and to confirm a cause-effect relationship between the dynamics of the accident and the fatal injuries inflicted by the dangerous moving parts of the mixer wagon upon the victim's body. 20,28,41 Those conducting the autopsy must describe, evaluate, and attempt to correlate the wounds and dismemberments observed with the specific mechanical parts of the machinery to demonstrate that death was caused by reckless behavior (eg, getting too close to the machinery) and/or by the incorrect handling or use of the machinery despite other versions or explanations.…”

“…– the action of vehicles, mechanical tools (eg, chainsaws, wood cutting machines, harvesters, grass trimmers, screw log splitters, hay baling machines etc.) and of objects, tools or mechanical components which had broken off and ejected by the machineries 2,8,20–23 ;…”

Farming deaths – an ongoing problem

“…Hay baling is a particularly agricultural activity that may result in death from a variety of mechanisms [17,18]. Other causes of asphyxiation include exposure to methane in storage sheds or wheat silos, or to carbon monoxide from using faulty equipment in confined spaces [3].…”