Deaths in 2005

Deaths in 2006

Deaths in 2007

Deaths in 2005

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Deaths in 2006

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Deaths in 2007

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FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS

Lynda Wilkins

Lynda, a worker from Leyland working at the BAE Systems armaments site at Euxton, was killed in an explosion while handling explosives. Lynda had been making lead styphnate when the blast happened.

An inquest was held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner's Court on 14 June 2006 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

Stewart Myatt, the senior scientist who led the investigation, said a tiny static charge, much less than that needed to ignite the more commonly known TNT, could set the explosive off. He gave various scenarios to demonstrate just how easily the explosive could ignite. He said, 'Friction, a static charge or an impact such as the dropping of the camel hair brush used for cleaning, would be enough to cause an explosion.' He said, in his opinion, it was the proximity of the brush to the lead styphnate which led to the blast.

Sally Haslewood, on behalf of Mrs Wilkins' daughter Emma, asked Mr Myatt, why, if the explosive was so sensitive, were people in such close contact with it? He said he did not feel he was able to answer the question.

Ian McKay, of the Health and Safety Executive, said that, from analysing the debris found in the room and during the post mortem examination, he was able to conclude it was a piece of plastic which lodged in Lynda's neck and killed her.

The jury was told that, during the sieving procedure, Lynda would have been behind a protective wall. However, when she walked from behind that, there was probably a small amount of explosive that had not sieved through.

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Mark Miller

Mark was crushed to death after a 98-stone load of cardboard fell on him. Police, who were conducting an investigation on behalf of the coroner, said that he died instantly when the 5ft by 3ft compressed bale fell from a JCB being reversed by the company managing director.

The inquest was held at Blackburn Coroner’s Court on 9 August 2005 when an 'Accidental Death' verdict was returned.

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Daryl Lloyd

Daryl died after being crushed by a battery-operated truck, a tow tractor, which he was driving at Pincroft Dyeing and Printing Company, in Huyton Road in Adlington. He fell from the seat of the vehicle, which in turn fell on him. He was crushed by the rim of the cab when it toppled over.

Daryl was driving the three-wheeled battery operated vehicle at the premises, but it was not fitted with a seat belt and the cab doors were missing. The floor surface was uneven and Daryl had not received sufficient driver training.

The inquest was held at Preston Coroner’s Court on 7 October 2005 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

In December 2006 Pin Croft Dyeing and Printing Co Limited was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £18,895 full costs after pleading guilty to three criminal charges brought by the Health and Safety Executive.

Rosemary Leese Weller, the HSE inspector who investigated the case, said, 'Daryl's death was entirely preventable by simple health and safety precautions such as provision of a well maintained vehicle, properly maintained floor surface and by ensuring sufficient training in its use. Every year about 50 people are killed in accidents involving workplace transport.

'This particular accident illustrates the importance of employers providing safe sites, safe vehicles and safe drivers.'

(Pin Croft Dyeing and Printing Co Limited was fined a total of £100,000 after pleading guilty to three charges: Under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in that they failed to ensure the safety of employee Daryl Wayne Lloyd; under Regulation 3(1) (a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 in that they failed to make a suitable assessment of the risks to Daryl's health and safety; and that they breached regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) in that they failed to ensure that the tow tractor being driven by Daryl was maintained in efficient working order.)

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Joseph Macken

While laying boards over joists at loft level Joseph fell 2.8 metres. The client was Thomas Rowe on a possible self-build project at the Walled Gardens, Singleton Hall, Lodge Lane, Singleton.

The inquest was held at Blackpool and Fylde Coroner’s Court on 13 February 2007 when a verdict of 'Death by Misadventure" was returned.

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Robert Davies

Robert died at Southport Hospital after sustaining injuries at T Guy Ltd, Tollgate Road, Burscough when a wagon lifting arm made contact with live over-head power cables and he was electrocuted. Ambulance crews were called but could not save him.

At the time of the incident a driver was operating the controls of the lifting arm after moving a temporary structure onto the rear of a vehicle. Robert was assisting and was in the process of replacing aluminium ladders back onto the lorry.

It is understood that while the lifting arm was being manoeuvred, it made contact with overhead power lines. The resulting injuries to Mr Davies proved fatal.

The inquest was to be held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner’s Court.

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John 'Barry' Strettle

John, a property tycoon known to his friends as Barry, died after falling from scaffolding while renovating one of his houses.

Lancashire Ambulance were called to a house in Latham Street, Avenham following reports that John had fallen 20ft. He suffered severe head injuries and died later.

The inquest was held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner’s Court on 12 December 2005.

John was also a judo expert and taught youngsters martial arts at the Fylde Road Martial Arts Centre, which he owned.

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Martin Richardson

Martin was crushed by a 10-ton skip lorry while working at the Garstang Recycling Centre, Brockholes Way, Claughton.

Martin, an employee of SITA UK, who run the facility on behalf of Lancashire County Council, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Police believe the lorry was carrying out a manoeuvre in the centre's yard when the accident happened.

The inquest was to be held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner’s Court.

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Michael Bradley

Michael, an experienced fitter known to his family and friends as Ian, died when he was pinned between the forklift and metal shelving in a warehouse at Clitheroe's Castle Cement works.

An inquest was held at Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Coroner's Court at Clitheroe Town Hall, on 21 March 2006 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

Michael left the vehicle's engine running, the gearstick in the drive position and only partially activated the handbrake when he got down from the truck to move something on the metal racking, the inquest was told.

The inquest jury heard how Michael was then pinned to the shelves in front of the truck when the vehicle moved forward. He died from crush injuries to his chest. Michael was only three weeks away from retirement.

Jurors heard how the incident happened just two weeks after Michael passed a two-day reassessment course on forklift trucks and six days after the truck passed its annual service.

Subsequent tests by the Health and Safety Executive ruled that the Boss forklift was in good condition. But it did recommend that handbrakes on the site's forklift trucks were replaced after tests showed the brake on the vehicle in question was found to have plenty of give' until pulled more than halfway up.

Work colleague John Ainsworth told the inquest how he had been moving motor parts with Michael. He said, 'I called him on the radio and got no response. When I got to the shed I could see the forklift with the engine running.

'Ian was stood up and he was pinned there by his back. I took the handbrake off and reversed it and Ian fell and banged his head on the floor. I thought straight away that he was dead.'

The inquest heard forklift driver training instructs people to always lower the forks, put the gearstick into neutral, turn the engine off and remove the keys from the ignition every time the vehicle is parked.

Speaking after the hearing, Gareth Price, manager of the Castle Cement plant, said, 'Following the accident we immediately instigated a review of procedures. The HSE have carried out an inquiry and following the result of the inquest we will implement any necessary recommendations.'

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Peter Walton

Peter, a joiner, fell 20 feet to his death when scaffolding collapsed underneath him on 10 May 2006. Peter was in a coma for five-and-a-half weeks before he died following the fall at Altham Business Park.

Accrington CID and the Health and Safety Executive were jointly investigating the death.

Coroner Michael Singleton revealed the possibility of manslaughter charge during the opening of an inquest into Peter's death.

The inquest at Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Coroner's Court was adjourned until September 2006, then transferred in September 2007 to East Lancashire Coroner's Court.

The inquest was held in April 2009.

Kieron Baines, director of New Look Construction, told a jury how he saw Peter 'disappeared' through scaffolding with no warning.

The two men were working on the third level of some scaffolding on the building site i when the incident happened.

Mr Baines, who was a close friend of Peter, said, 'I saw him walk across carrying a piece of wall plate. He was about 14ft away. Peter walked across and disappeared through the scaffolding.'

The jury had previously heard trainee scaffolder Nathan Briggs had been sent by his employer, Howarth Scaffolding, to erect hop-up boards – work platforms on the scaffolding – even though he was unqualified to do so.

Trevor Shearon, the site agent who was employed by Glenn Mill Developments to oversee the day to day running of the works, said he spoke to the advanced scaffolder, Dave Shaw, to ask if the scaffolding could be used on Tuesday May 9 – the day before the incident. He said, 'I asked the scaffolder can we use the scaffolding. He said you can use the top lift but you mustn't use the lower lifts.

'I then informed New Look Construction that they could use the scaffolding. Later that afternoon they put some timber up and then the next day they started putting some wall plates up and that's the day of the accident. If they (the scaffolders) had said it was unsafe, I would have said you can't go on.'

Mr Baines confirmed seeing Mr Shearon walking over to the scaffolders but Dave Shaw denied having such a conversation. Mr Baines added, 'Me and Peter saw him (Trevor Shearon) walk over to the scaffolders. I didn't hear the conversation.'

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Shaun Mangan

Shaun was working on a 45ft scissor lift platform at the Sandy Knoll apartments when it toppled over throwing him and a colleague into the grounds of the neighbouring Majestic Flats.

Sean suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. A post-mortem showed he died of multiple injuries.

Shaun's colleague, apprentice joiner Ben Carlisle,

landed on grass and also suffered head injuries.

The two men, subcontracted by main contractors Clement Dickens and Son, were aboard the scissor lift (or cherry picker) when the incident happened.

Health and Safety inspectors carried out a full investigation and presented their findings at a jury inquest inquest held at Blackpool and Fylde Coroner’s Court sitting in Blackpool Town Hall on 7 September 2007. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

They concluded one of the four stabiliser legs had not been extended as far as the other three, causing the vehicle to become unstable once the platform was lifted. It is thought as the platform was being lowered, from just over seven metres, the machine dipped towards the uneven leg and toppled over.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said, 'The HSE usually awaits the outcome of an inquest before making any decision on whether further action is necessary. We cannot comment on this particular case until it has been reviewed following the inquest.'

Clement Dickens managing director Martin Dickens said, 'We are satisfied with the decision, but sadly that doesn't bring the man back. The jury made their decision and we are satisfied with their decision. It exonerates us, I feel, of any liability. We employed Mr Mangan to operate this piece of equipment because he had the qualifications.'

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William Prescott

William died after being trapped under a trailer from which he was unloading carrots at Salthouse Farm on Moss Lane in Burscough.

Ambulance crews were called to reports a man was trapped under a trailer but by the time they arrived he had died.

Lancashire police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) opened a joint investigation into the cause of Williams's death.

The inquest is to be held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner’s Court on a date yet to be set.

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Morecambe Bay Helicopter Crash

Five gas workers and two pilots were killed when the 20-year-old Eurocopter SA365N helicopter went down in Morecambe Bay 25 miles off the Lancashire coast after leaving Blackpool Airport on a routine flight between gas platforms.

Bob, Alfred, Leslie and John were gas rig workers. Steve was the commander and Simon the pilot of the helicopter. They worked for CHC Scotia, Aberdeen-based helicopter company.

A search for Keith, a contractor, was eventually called off.

Crash investigators located the aircraft's flight data recorder ten days after the incident.

The inquest was held at Blackpool and Fylde Coroner’s Court in Blackpool Town Hall in March 2009. The jury recorded verdicts of 'Accidental Death', citing poor weather conditions, pilot disorientation and the transfer of controls.

The inquest was told that Simon became unhappy with his landing and pulled out the manoeuvre. He asked Stephen to take over the controls but there was a four-second delay before Stephen was able to do so.

Workers on the Centrica platform saw the helicopter pitch sharply forward and bank to the right seconds before it dropped into the sea.

Anne Hind, the Coroner, said, 'I would like to express my profound sympathies to those whose lives have been torn apart in this terrible, terrible tragedy. I always hope that after an inquest there will have been a certain catharsis.'.

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Andrew Rae

Andrew, who had been a gas fitter with Preston City Council for six years, died after falling from the balcony of a flat on St Thomas's Street, off Moor Lane. Police said Andrew, who was from Burnley, fell after leaning on wooden rails while carrying out repairs at one of the properties.

The flat is owned by the Community Gateway Association.

Within hours of the incident, city council maintenance teams who carry out repairs on behalf of Community Gateway were shoring up similar fences on the estate with large sheets of plywood and metal corner brackets, with workers warning residents to stay away from the railings.

One man who lived on nearby Thorpe Close, said, 'The wood on the railings is just plain rotten. Loads of people have complained about the state of them. You can just stick your finger into the wood and it starts to crumble in your hands.'

Police concluded their investigation into Andrew's death and said that the incident would now be the subject of a detailed inquiry by the Health and Safety Executive.

The inquest was held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner’s Court in May 2008 when a narrative verdict was recorded.

The inquest jury ruled there was a flaw in the design of the balcony and said Andrew died because of 'the decay and degradation of the timber balustrade and its fittings'. The jury also found that they there was 'no evidence that an adequate system was in place to request and resolve maintenance complaints' and there was no preventative maintenance programme for the flats.

In October 2008 a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) spokesperson said, 'The investigation is now complete and we are making a decision over what, if any, action to take.'

He said he expected any decision to be made before the end of 2009.

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Christopher Marshall

Christopher died after a large piece of granite fell on him at Granite Care on Skull House Lane in Appley Bridge, near Wigan. He was taken by air ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital but died a short time later.

Christopher had only been working at Granite Care, which supplies and fits kitchen worktops, for four weeks.

The inquest was to be held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner’s Court.

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Graham Bannister

Graham was killed when he was hit by his bin wagon as he completed his round in Priory Lane, close to the junction with Blundell Lane, in Penwortham.

The Health and Safety Executive and Lancashire Police were carrying out investigations into the incident.

South Ribble Borough Council and Enterprise Plc, the firm to which the council had sub-contracted refuse collection, were also investigating the incident. Graham had worked for Enterprise Plc for 17 years

The driver of the bin wagon was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but was later released on police bail.

In May 2008 at South Ribble Magistrates, Robert Anthony, who had been with his Enterprise refuse collection crew for only three days when he reversed over Graham was disqualified from driving for two years and fined £400.

The chairman of the magistrates, Derek Ashworth, said he had 'grave reservations' over the amount of training given to Anthony, who pleaded guilty to careless driving. The court heard Anthony had been given just 30 minutes of training,

The inquest was to be held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner’s Court.

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Stephen Murphy

Stephen died after being consumed by flames following an explosion at an industrial unit in Simonswood, near Kirkby..

Emergency services were called to the fire at Greycourt Transport.

Detectives from Lancashire police launched an investigation into Stephen's death.

The inquest will be held at Preston and West Lancashire Coroner’s Court.

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