Inquest After Fatal Crushing Accident In Oldham

An inquest has revealed details of a workplace accident that left a man dead.

The 63-year-old man, who worked as a welder in Oldham, died of multiple injuries in 2011 after he was involved in a crushing accident.

The worker had been welding a three-tonne cylinder which was attached to a crane at the time of the accident. Metal chains were attached to the crane above when a fellow worker moved the crane he was working on, causing the two cranes to collide with one another and crush the man in the middle.

HSE Prosecution

The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the company where the man was working, stating that there were not enough health and safety measures in place to stop the accident from happening. Manchester Crown Court ordered the company to pay £90,000 in fines and £35,000 in prosecution costs.

A subsequent inquest at Oldham Magistrates Court heard the Coroner say:
“He moved the crane in the opposite direction, which collided with {the man’s} crane and pulled the shell off its support stands and allowed it to pendulum colliding with {the man}.”

It was disclosed that the worker had not been given any formal training on how to operate the cranes and it was concluded that the man had died as a consequence of “an unintended act or admission”.

New Safety Measures

Since the accident, the company has put in place new safety measures, including anti-collision lasers and barriers, and there has also been more health and safety training for the staff. The Coroner said: “Life at the factory will be very much safer following the changes that have been put in place following his untimely death.”

Making A Work Accident Claim

If you have been injured in an accident at work then you could make a workplace accident claim. Similarly, if you have a relative who has died in an accident at work that was not their fault, then you could also make a claim. Please call 0333 358 3034 or complete an online claim form.

Published 11th February 2015.