Deaths in 2004

Deaths in 2005

Deaths in 2006

Deaths in 2004

Click on the names below for further case details

Back to Top

Deaths in 2005

Click on the names below for further case details

Back to Top

Deaths in 2006

Click on the names below for further case details

Back to Top

FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS

Steve Linforth

Stephen Linforth was caught between the forks of an oncoming six-tonne truck and the load of his own truck. He had got out of his cab just before the incident. He was a new employee and may have been checking his load was correct. Steve died from multiple injuries.

The driver who hit him has disappeared and police believe he may have left the country. Henry Brown may have returned to his native Jamaica after leaving his lodgings in Widnes. But in a statement given to the company before he disappeared, Mr Brown had said he never looked down the warehouse aisle as he drove down it.

The investigation into the case was made by the Environmental Health Officer of Halton Borough Council.

The inquest was held at Cheshire Coroner's Court on 23 May 2005.

The court heard that Mr Brown was not wanted for a criminal offence in relation to the incident, and that he was a slow worker and also a new employee. Mr Rheinberg said, ' Perhaps that is the tragedy of it. Mr Brown was so busy not wanting to make a mistake that he didn't look where he was going.'

'He never saw Mr Linforth's truck despite the fact that it was a huge vehicle and he never saw Mr Linforth despite the fact that he was wearing a high visibility jacket," he added.

A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

EXEL logistics has made improvements to the warehouse lighting and pedestrian areas since the incident.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Michael Alty

Michael fell to his death through a fragile roof while replacing roof lights at the former ICI warehouse in Winnington Lane, Northwich. Michael was working as supervisor for D A Carter with another employee at the warehouse, owned by Winnington Warehousing Limited, when he fell through the roof on to the concrete floor below.

Michael went up a ladder to replace translucent lights on a roof, made from asbestos cement sheets, approximately 6m off the ground. As he replaced a roof light, the asbestos sheet gave way and he fell approximately 6m to the concrete floor below.

The inquest was held at Cheshire Coroner's Court on 19 October 2005. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

In August 2006 D A Carter Ltd was fined £7,500 after admitting breaching health and safety obligations. D A Carter Limited pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in that they did not take reasonably practicable, suitable and effective measures to prevent anyone falling from height during work on the roof of the warehouse.

'It is essential that companies carry out a risk assessment before any work at height to minimise the possibility of an incident,' said Sarah Wadham, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Construction Inspector.

During the investigation into the accident it was found that the company had not completed a risk assessment for the work. Suitable and sufficient measures, such as the use of proprietary equipment, were not used to prevent falls, no edge protection - such as scaffolding - was erected and access to the roof lights was made by walking across the asbestos cement roof.

During the case brought by the HSE, Vale Royal Magistrates' Court heard that D A Carter Ltd had 'failed to provide a risk assessment, method statement, scaffolding, staging, roof ladders or nets' to facilitate safe working on the 8m high sloping roof.

Prosecuting, Simon Parrington said, 'On March 8, Mr Alty and his colleague went to replace a number of lights which were allowing water to leak through the roof. They were equipped only with replacement lights, tools, a ladder up to the roof secured using only a Bunchy strap and a cat ladder, which was left on the ground, despite the fact that D A Carter Ltd owns equipment including scaffolding, crawling boards and harnesses. As a result, Mr Alty and his colleague took a great risk every time they climbed on to the roof during the three-day period, as well as every time they moved around on top of the roof.'

Mr Parrington told the court that, rather than using crawl boards designed to form a safe pathway across the roof, Mr Alty and his colleague were 'bolt jumping', a practice involving leaping across the roof on bolts holding the roof to steel girders inside the building. On March 10, Mr Alty was in the process of installing a new light close to the centre of the roof when he fell to his death.

Mr Parrington said, 'His colleague had his back turned at the time but spun round when he heard a crack. However, Mr Alty had already fallen through the roof on to the concrete floor a considerable distance below.'

Mr Parrington said, 'It is the company's responsibility to ensure the safety of its workers. Our inspectors, however, found that no written risk assessment or method statement - the means of identifying and mitigating against the risk of falls - had been produced prior to the job. The death of Mr Alty is the aggravating factor in this case.'

In a plea for leniency defence solicitor Simon Antrobus expressed the regret of Mr and Mrs Carter at the accident. 'He and Mr Carter had worked alongside one another before Mr Carter set up the business, and he was the head foreman for every job the company performed between its inception in 1993 and the events of March 2004.'

'Mr Alty's death savaged the company financially, but also left Mr Carter's enthusiasm and abilities to run the business waning.'

Dr Ken Baird, chairman of the Bench, said, 'We have taken into account that this accident may not have happened if D A Carter had taken sufficient safety measures, and that the accident led to Mr Alty's death. The mitigating factors we have considered are: the company has co-operated fully with the HSE investigation; the Health and Safety training undertaken since the accident; and the company's ability to continue trading after receiving a fine for this offence. The other factor is D A Carter pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.'

'We have therefore decided to impose a fine of £7,500, as well as a contribution of £5,000 to prosecution costs.'

Speaking after the verdict, HSE Inspector Sarah Wadham, who attended the scene, said, 'Falls through fragile roofs account for one in five fatalities in the construction industry. Reasonable and practical steps could have been taken to avoid this accident, which led to the unnecessary loss of a young man's life.'

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Joseph Pigott

Joseph, a farmer at The Manor Farm in Shocklach, was was releasing a 600-kilo Friesian bull into a pen at The Manor Farm in Shocklach when he was thrown to the ground and received severe head injuries.

Joseph's son and daughter Adrian and Andrea who were working alongside him got the bull away from their 77-year-old father and called an ambulance.

The inquest was held at Cheshire Coroner's Court on 11 October 2004 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

John Rowland

John Rowland, a warehouseman, died from serious injuries sustained when struck by a falling pallet. He died at the premises of Tibbett & Britten, Preston Brook, Whitehouse Industrial Estate in Runcorn.

The inquest was held at Cheshire Coroner's Court on 27 and 28 March 2006 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Peter Roberts

Peter, a piling rig operator, died in the Countess of Chester hospital on 6 May 2004, from head injuries sustained in an accident earlier in the day at a site in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

The incident happened when a blockage occurred in a concrete delivery pipe. The foreman blew compressed air through the pipe to unblock it, which caused the pipe to swing free wildly, knocking Peter on the head. His employer Dawson WAM Ltd. was working for the client and principal contractor Quinn Glass Ltd.

The inquest was held at Cheshire Coroner's Court on 26 and 27 September 2005 sitting in Warrington Town Hall. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

John Gibbs

John, an HGV driver, had worked for PE Blake and Son Ltd haulage and tanker hire company in Little Leigh for 35 years when he fell from the roof of a tanker after releasing the safety rail. John temporarily regained consciousness but died at Warrington General Hospital six days later.

The inquest was held at Cheshire Coroner's Court in October 2005.

John's wife Joan told the hearing that John left home early to collect a Manchester load but returned to the Heath Lane workplace when the job was cancelled to replace lid seals on the roof of a tanker.

When foreman driver Brian Lewis saw John working atop the wagon he noticed the safety handrail lowered. He said, 'The procedure is to use it once you are on top but it was lowered, which is not in accordance with company proceedings.'

But HGV driver Darren Chantler confirmed John, who had previously suffered from vertigo, had been using the rail just 20 minutes before he fell. He added, 'He banged his elbow and he shouted and swore at the raised handrail then threw it down. 'Later I heard a noise and looked up to see John falling towards me. I put my hands up to try to catch him but did not succeed.'

Health and Safety inspector John McGrellis, who confirmed the rail was in a good state of repair, said John's stance with one foot on the serrated catwalk platform and the other on the skin of the tanker may have contributed to the fall. He added, 'Even if the handrail was up it might not have prevented it because of Mr Gibbs' position. Falls from tankers are not the most frequent but 10 per cent of these do result in fatalities.'

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said, 'The circumstances of what happened are tragically simple.'

A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Christopher Brierton

Christopher, aconstruction worker from Riston in Blackburn, was run over and killed by a caterpillar tracked excavator on Monday 16 August 2004. Christopher who was working for the North Yorkshire firm York House Construction suffered massive trauma including crushing injuries to his head and chest and a possible punctured lung. He suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to Warrington Hospital but died later in the morning.

York House Construction was building a new warehouse for the plastic cartridge manufacturer Fischback UK Ltd. on Warrington Road.

The incident was initially investigated by the police but was then handed over to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The inquest was due to be held at Cheshire Coroner's Court siting in Warrington Town Hall on 6 November 2006

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Joshua Beswick

Joshua, a construction worker from Widnes, was run over and killed by a 16 ton loading shovel on Wednesday at the site of Grundy & Co. Excavations Ltd. based at the Liver Yard, Ditton Road, Widnes.

The inquest was due to take place on 8 November 2006 at Cheshire Coroner's Court, sitting in Warrington Town Hall.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Raymond Schofield and Stephen Coulter

Raymond and Stephen were killed while working on the M6 motorway, when a car driven by a member of the public, Mrs Mehrunnisa Yusef, ploughed into a coned area. The incident happened on the M6 southbound carriageway near Knutsford between junctions 19 and 20.

Raymond and Stephen were traffic management operatives who were completing a closure of the M6 in preparation for repairs to the central barrier.

The inquest was held at Cheshire Coroner's Court on 18 October 2005.

Eyewitnesses told the inquest at Warrington how Mrs Yusef had weaved between a minibus and a 35-tonne articulated lorry as traffic slowed down to 50mph at the road-works. Police accident investigator PC Michael Prime said Mrs Yusef was travelling at more than 80mph when she ploughed into Raymond and Stephen.

The court heard that Mrs Yusef was being treated for psychiatric problems, including severe Pre-Menstrual Tension (PMT) on the months leading up to the accident. The day before the crash, she visited psychiatrist Dr Kumar Singh because her menstrual cycle was due to begin. Dr Singh said the patient had been warned the anti-depressants she had been proscribed could make her drowsy and she should not drive if feeling tired or lethargic.

Dr Singh said Mrs Yusef had complained of marriage problems and wished to leave her husband and was suffering pressure from her family. He said she also felt lonely after relocating to Preston from Essex. Dr Singh diagnosed Mrs Yusef as suffering from a condition where she sometimes fell into a 'fugue' and, although functioning normally, would have no memory of her actions. A symptom of the condition is that patients often undertake pointless journeys. On one occasion last year, Mrs Yusef had driven to Watford on a whim and on the night of the accident had decided to go for a drive on the M6.

Eyewitness Ian Nicholson, of Didcot, Oxfordshire, described his disbelief at Mrs Yusef's driving seconds before the smash. 'I just couldn't believe what I was seeing,' he told the court. 'The car pulled up beside us and undertook us on the inside then it pulled out in front of us, behind a lorry, before losing control and hitting the side of the motorway workers' lorry before hitting the two men.'

Tests on Mrs Yusef's car revealed that both her rear tyres were under-inflated. PC Prime said, 'The under-inflated tyres would cause considerable handling difficulties if the car was forced to make a severe movement.'

The jury returned verdicts of unlawful killing in relation to both Raymond's and Stephen's deaths and of accidental death in relation to Mrs Yusef.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Anthony, a bricklayer, fell when a wall was blown down on him in strong winds at Broadhurst Manor, Moston. Anthony died two weeks later from his injuries.

The inquest will take place at Cheshire Coroner's Court, sitting in Warrington Town Hall on 7 November 2006.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Lee, a fitter, died in the jaws of a forklift truck at the Widnes based Sheerfab factory where he had worked for 11 years..

The inquest is due to take place at Cheshire Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Fred was killed after being hit by a potato harvester trailer while helping to gather the crop at Greenbank Farm, Frodsham Road, where he lived with brother Geoff..

The inquest is due to take place at Cheshire Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top

Daniel was crushed to death by a fork-lift stacker truck at the Widnes factory of Merseyside Coatings. The truck appears to have over-turned and trapped Daniel underneath.

The inquest is due to take place at Cheshire Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

Back to Table (2001)

Back to Table (2002)

Back to Table (2003)

Back to Table (2004)

Back to Table (2005)

Back to Table (2006)

Back to Top