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Deaths in 2001
Deaths in 2001
Deaths in 2002 No details
of deaths available Click on the names below for further case details
No details of deaths available No details of deaths available
FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS John Lane
Dr. John
Lane, a young chemist working at Britain's most advanced to xic waste
plant in Newport, died after being overcome by hydrogen sulphide fumes
leaking from a tank. The court
heard how 28-year-old Dr Lane had only worked at the plant for seven weeks
when he was killed by the lethal fumes in July 2001. A lid on the tank
which should have contained the fumes was "virtually non-existent",
the court was told. Mr Lane had told his father that most of the short
time he worked at the plant he was concerned over safety issues. The Prosecutor
told the court that "In the laboratory there was a lack of expertise
- he would often get phone calls even when not on duty asking for advice.
He felt vulnerable after 5pm when no managers or experienced people were
at the site." In sentencing, the Judge said that the company showed prodits of 287,00 pounds in 199, 502,00 pounds in 2000 and 193,000 pounds in 2001. The two directors of the company at the time drew salaries together worth 218,000 in 2001. T He said that the were defeicneices in the instruction and training of employees and no evidence that Dr Lane received any specific training. The HSE said after the case, "the death was caused by appalingly bad management of safety by the company" The inquest was held at Gwent Coroner’s Court on 18 December 2001. A verdict of Death by Misadventure was returned.
Ernest Berry
Ernest, a maintainence fitter with a plant hire firm, died when the bucket of a Skid Steer Loader, which he and a female collegue were working with, came crashing down on him. Ththe companany was fined 180,000 pounds for breaches of health and safety law. The court heard that Ernest had gone to the aid of a female work colleague who was unable to control the equipment and, like him was untrained and unqualified to operate the machine. Andrew Hopper QC, prosecuting, said that defects of the machine meant that it acted in an erratic manner. He said that the loader was dangerously unsafe because of insufficient maintenance. An important safety feature, which would have meant the bucket springing back into position, had failed and instead slammed to the floor giving Mr Berry no time to escape. He said that the comnpany failed to provide adequate training for the 500 employees working at the plant at the time. He also said that there was inadequate maintenance of equipment because of a culture of saving money at the company which had a 38 million pound a year turnover. The The inquest was held at Gwent Coroner’s Court on 18 December 2001. A verdict of Death by Misadventure was returned.
Daniel Dennis
Dennis, a roofer, died when he fell through a skylight in the roof of a Matalan store at the Cwmbran Retail Park, Torfan, Gwent. Daniel had just started his first job with the roofing company and had not received any safety training or instruction on working at heights. His father had even contacted Roy Clarke who traded as North Eastern Roofing to warn him about his lack of training and experience. He was able to walk across part of the roof to access materials and the skylight, which was not cordoned off, gave way under his weight causing him to fall approximately 28ft (9m) to the floor below. The inquest was held at Gwent Coroner’s Court in Newport on 15 March 2005. The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in less than 10 minutes. Despite the inquest verdict the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to bring charges of gross negligence manslaughter against Daniel’s employer. Daniel’s father, Peter Dennis, commented, 'The CPS failed to bring charges which left us flabbergasted. Our son was killed within days of starting work, but there was no accountability for his employer. How is that justice? We want to ensure that other families never go through what we have.' Allan Garley, regional secretary of the GMB, said in April 2006, 'The death of a 17-year-old boy in his first week at work is an absolute tragedy. The GMB isn't after vengeance, but we want employers who kill workers to be properly held to account.' In December 2006 Lord Justice Waller in the High Court judge ruled the matter should be referred back to the CPS. Giving his ruling on 29 December Lord Justice Waller said there were 'failures' over factors which influenced the CPS not to prosecute. The judge said a solicitor acting for the CPS did not take into account the 'seriousness of a failure to give proper instruction not to go on the roof prior to induction or proper instruction'. He also said the CPS had not taken sufficient account of the Newport inquest jury's unlawful killing verdict in March last year. The judge said the matter should be referred back to the CPS and that it was possible that a different decision could be made when these factors are taken into consideration but the the final decision would still rest with the CPS. After the ruling Peter Dennis said, 'This decision gives us some hope this new year that justice for Daniel will finally be achieved.' Mick Antoniw, one of the solicitor's acting for Daniel's family, said, 'This is a landmark ruling as it's only the second case where the courts have interfered in a workplace death. We now expect the CPS to review and overhaul the way they consider the evidence in cases involving workplace deaths.' In October 2007 Gwent Crown Prosecution Service reversed its decision and said it would now prosecute Roy Clarke the owner of North Eastern Roofing. Mick Antoniw said, 'There are lessons to learn. In future, it’s essential for the CPS to become more proactive and to take a greater interest in workplace fatalities and develop greater expertise in health and safety law.'
John Doran
John, a workman with Bristol based construction firm M J O'Connor, climbed down into a trench he and his collegues had been digging when the sides collapsed burying him under six feet of mud. Thirty firemen, with the police and emergency services standing by, managed to extricate him after four hours at which time he was declared dead. The inquest is to be held at Gwent Coroner’s Court. No date has yet been sent.
Andrew Thomas
Andrew was crushed to death while delivering plasterboard to an address in Caldercott.South Wales. No further details are available The inquest is to be held at Gwent Coroner’s Court. No date has yet been set
David Price
David, was carrying out maintenance on some machinery at the Alpha Steel plant, when he became trapped in the macjinery and ided at the scene. The inquest is to be held at Gwent Coroner’s Court. No date has yet been set.
Justin Parry-Bevan
Justin, was crushed to death when a flat-bed lorry and a tipper truck slid down a hill in the village of Hollybush, near Tredegar. Justin was unloading a mini excavator from the flat bed lorry with his older brother. The inquest is to be held at Gwent Coroner’s Court. No date has yet been set.
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