Robert Geach's widow Sylvia criticised South West Water policy
The widow of a man who drowned while working alone at a water treatment works has criticised the company's lone worker policy, an inquest has heard.
Robert Geach fell into a filtration tank at the Falmouth Water Treatment Works, in Cornwall, in December 2013.
His widow said South West Water called her 90 minutes after he should have returned home asking if he had arrived.
She said the policy was not suitable for "people working in dangerous conditions and locations".
The jury was shown a video reconstruction of an open hatch above a tank, and a South West Water worker lying on the platform above the tank with his hands in the hatch.
Pathologist Dr Hugh Jones told the inquest, held in Truro, that Mr Geach died as a result of drowning and he was alive when he went into the water.
Dr Jones said he found it difficult to imagine how Mr Geach had fallen through the hatch.
Robert Geach drowned at a water treatment plant in Falmouth
In a statement read to the inquest, his widow Sylvia said her husband was expected home by 16:30 GMT but was late, which was not unusual.
At 18:00 she received a call from the South West Water control room, in Exeter, asking if Mr Geach was at home.
She said: "I do not think the lone worker policy operated by South West Water is suitable for people working in dangerous conditions and locations.
"I believe there can be a delay in sending someone out to help."
The inquest continues.
