Deaths in 2006

Click on the names below for further case Manufacture

Deaths in 2007

Click on the names below for further case details

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FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS

Peter Cook

Peter was a lorry driver who was killed while loading a heavy goods vehicle at the recycling company Nordic Recycling in Chatham Docks.

An inquest will be held at the Mid Kent and Medway Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

Following the incident, on 17 January 2006, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) urged all employers involved in the transport and handling of heavy goods to assess the associated risks.

HM Inspector of Health and Safety, Mike Walters, said there were a number of simple steps to help ensure safety during workplace transport activities. These included:

1. Ensuring that pedestrians are completely segregated from areas where loading and unloading of lorries is being undertaken.

2. Drivers of lorries being loaded should be kept away from loading operations to prevent them from being struck by vehicles such as forklift trucks.

3. Only trained and competent operators should be employed to load/unload
vehicles with forklift trucks or other similar lifting equipment.

4. Loads should be properly secured to forklift trucks or other similar lifting equipment before they are moved.

5. Any reversing of vehicles in a loading area should be kept to a minimum.

Mike Walters said, 'Nationally 70 people are killed in workplace transport related accidents each year, on top of this figure over 200 people suffer serious injuries. Simple and effective controls can be put in place to minimise the risks associated with transport in the workplace. It is essential that employers assess the risks properly and implement suitable control measures to reduce the number of fatal and serious accidents involving vehicles in the workplace.'

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Balwinder Singh Aulk

Balwinder, a worker in a rice factory, died after getting his leg caught on a giant corkscrew in a huge silo. The incident happened at the Veetee Rice factory in Strood while Balwinder was in the bottom of the silo.

Paramedics amputated Balwinder's leg as they desperately tried to free him but he died from his injuries before reaching hospital.

An inquest will be held at the Mid Kent and Medway Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

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Nigel, a paint sprayer, was killed when a 975 kg metal plate fell onto him and he suffered crush injuries.

An inquest will be held at the Mid Kent and Medway Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

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Alan Dawson

Alan died of head injuries when he was struck by a side loader on a forklift truck at the Champion Timber yard in Edenbridge. Alan was taken to Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells but was dead on arrival.

An inquest will be held at the North West Kent Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

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Damian Griffiths

Damian a refuse worker, was killed in a collision between a dustcart and a lorry on the A228 Boyle Way, East Peckham. Damian and his colleagues were carrying out a litter picking operation on the roadside verge.

The drivers of the refuse collection vehicle and the lorry both needed treatment for shock following the collision.

Damian's employers Veolia were subcontracted to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

An inquest will be held at the Mid Kent and Medway Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

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David Pope

David died when a tow rope snapped and hit him in the chest, while he was working on a tug boat towing a barge on the River Thames at Gravesend.

An inquest will be held at the North West Kent Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

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Ian Bristow

Ian was killed at the Eastern Docks ferry terminal in Dover while working as a crane operator for the contractor Ainscough Crane Hire Ltd. He was working on a fendering repair contract when the incident happened.

An inquest will be held at the Central and South East Kent Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

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Gian Chand Bajar

Gian Chand, self-employed driver, died after being attacked and then run over with his own vehicle in Gravesend. A 20-year-old man appeared in court charged with Gian Chand's murder.

Gian Chand, who worked for Saturn Taxis in Gravesend, died in hospital after being found injured in St Benedicts Avenue on Wednesday night. Police believe he had just picked up a fare in the Springhead Road area of the town. His taxi was later found abandoned and burnt out.

Taxi drivers met in Gravesend after the death to discuss possible strike action and their ongoing concerns. Representatives later decided to reform and revamp the United Taxi Group to work with police and council officers and a pledge was made to co-operate with Gravesham Borough Council and Kent Police over how to keep drivers and passengers safe.

Shane Waterman, spokesman for the United Taxi Group, said, 'It is desperately sad that it has taken the murder of a good, honest and hard-working family man to get us all to start what should have begun years ago. We extend an offer to all parties to work with us to achieve the objective we all desire - a friendly, prosperous and, above all, safe borough of Gravesham.'

Any inquest would be held at the North West Kent Coroner's Court.

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