Building site 'crush' not captured on CCTV - inquest

The moment a delivery driver was fatally injured on a building site was not captured on CCTV, an inquest has heard.

Nigel Williamson was delivering large bags of gravel to the Kneeton Grove housing development in East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, using a crane-mounted lorry when he died last August.

The 60-year-old, who had worked for KRM Building Supplies, was found lying in the flatbed of the lorry in pain, and said the words "crushed and crane", before he suffered a cardiac arrest, witnesses said.

An inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court on Wednesday heard a remote control for the crane, which had been around Williamson's body before he was injured, was later found strapped to the machine.

Williamson was described by one of his colleagues in evidence as an "absolutely brilliant bloke", who was a competent driver and crane operator.

On Monday, forensic pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton concluded "significant" injuries to Williamson's pelvic area led to a cardiac arrest, while pre-existing heart problems "contributed" to his death.

The pathologist also said Williamson's injuries and marks on his body were consistent with being crushed by a "man-made object".

On Wednesday, the inquest heard from Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Sarah Smewin, who watched CCTV footage taken from the lorry Williamson had been using.

Cameras on the lorry did not capture how Williamson was injured on 13 August last year, but caught elements of what happened before and during the incident.

The inquest heard Williamson had placed the strap attached to the remote control used to operate the crane across his body, before two bags of gravel were lowered to the ground.

Throughout the evidence, the jury was told the remote control had an "emergency stop button", which is used to isolate the control from the crane when it is not in use.

The jury was told that using the emergency stop button was the "golden rule" of the operating the cranes.

Smewin, who viewed the footage, said Williamson had walked up the ladder on to the flatbed and was there when the incident occurred at 15:18 BST.

Assistant coroner Adam Pearson said: "If he was in the process of unloading a third bag, that would have placed him in close proximity to the crane wouldn't it?"

Smewin replied: "I would say so, yes."

She said a light on the stabilisers of the crane were flashing throughout the delivery, which indicated the remote was not isolated at any point.

Images of the crane-mounted lorry taken at the scene following Williamson's death showed the machine hovering over a bag of gravel.

The remote control was found inside the bag, along with one of its levers, which had been snapped off. A strap for the control was also around the bar.

The jury heard a pattern from the remote control was found imprinted on one of the hydraulic bars attached to the crane.

A HSE inspector said that, when closed together, the hydraulic bars could operate at a force equivalent to the weight of "four family-sized cars" pressing down on a road.

Williamson was found injured by workers on the site, who administered CPR after he went into cardiac arrest.

The jury previously heard he was not speaking clearly but said the words "crush and crane".

Emergency services continued to treat Williamson when they arrived. However, he died at the scene.

The inquest continues.

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