Housing site crush death an accident - inquest

A delivery driver who was crushed on a building site died in an accident, an inquest has found.

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 on 13 August last year.

An inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court previously heard the 60-year-old, who had worked for KRM Building Supplies, was found lying on the flatbed of the lorry in pain, and said the words "crushed and crane", before suffering a cardiac arrest.

On Thursday, a jury found he died as a result of pelvic injuries and "crushing of the abdomen", with "ischaemic heart disease and myocardial scarring" also a factor.

Forensic pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton concluded on Monday that "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 crush by a "man-made object".

Williamson had been employed by KRM Building Supplies for about two and a half weeks at the time of the accident.

Jurors were told a supervisor who would normally have been with him for a six-week period was on leave without a replacement.

A number of induction forms had not been signed by Williamson, but he had completed the correct training to be able to do the job, and despite an induction period normally lasting six weeks, he was able to work alone from his second week on the job.

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

After KRM Building Supplies was informed of the incident, crane operator for the firm, David Holland, attended the Peveril Homes site, alongside the daughter of the director of the company.

The inquest was told an emergency stop button on the remote control should be pressed when the crane was not being manoeuvred.

Holland said that using the stop button was the "golden rule of the job".

Speaking about the scene when he arrived, he said: "The remote control was in the tonne bag [of gravel] that the crane was above.

"It was still turned on, which meant it was live. The lever which operates the crane had been snapped off."

According to a record of inquest, the jury found: "Nigel was crushed by the brick grab due to the incorrect use of the isolation switch on [the] remote controller."

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