Businessman indicted after worker died buried in Paraná

Civil Police have indicted the owner of a cereal plant in Pitanga, in the central region of Paraná, for manslaughter after completing the investigation into the death of a 43-year-old worker buried by corn grains. The result of the investigation was released on Monday (28). The accident occurred on April 14, 2026.

According to the investigation, the worker fell about 3.60 meters through an opening without a guard, lid or other protection and ended up buried in a compartment used in processing and drying corn. The report of necropsy pointed to mechanical suffocation by burial as the cause of death.

Delegate William Gama Asunção said the victim was alone and did not wear fall protection equipment. In order to ascertain the circumstances of the accident, the police heard firefighters and company employees and analyzed labor and safety documents.

The risk was identified in a company document.

According to the Civil Police, the risk management program of the cereal maker, in force since November 2025, already classified as critical the risk of accidents in confined spaces for the function performed by the worker. The document recommended the installation of protections and training. According to the investigation, these measures had not been taken until the date of the accident.

On April 14, the monitoring system recorded the last appearance of the worker at 3:55 p.m. After realizing his disappearance, the owners searched the company and found him dead. Rescue teams were activated to remove the body.

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The 65-year-old owner was indicted for manslaughter, a classification used when there is no intention to kill. The indictment is a conclusion of the police investigation; the investigation was sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which will decide whether to file a complaint with the Justice. The names of the businessman and the company were not disclosed.