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Jury hears of precautions required to manage vehicles on shop project
The Lancashire Evening Post has reported that an inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court heard HSE investigators reveal that ”procedures were not in place to keep vehicles separate from pedestrians” on July 10th 2010.
Deputy Coroner Simon Jones heard how Carl Green, aged 45, was working on a construction project to open a Costa Coffee shop inside the Odeon cinema on Preston dock when he was struck by a Citroen Relay van. A post-mortem examination revealed he had died of ‘multiple crush injuries’.
The vehicle was being reversed by Michael Hoyle, who was working on the site as a floor layer. Mr Green said he repeatedly checked his mirrors before pulling out, adding:
“I had to pull forward so I was more in line, so that I could reverse back. I checked for pedestrians as I pulled forward, checking both sides. I was checking the left and right hand mirrors. It was about 100 yards then I heard a bang.
I stopped the van and I heard Mr Harrison (site foreman) shout: ‘It was Carl’. I got out the van and I saw Carl trapped underneath. I got under the van and held his head and tried to calm him down.”
Banksman mimimum precaution required
HSE issued a prohibition notice after the incident banning vehicles from the pedestrianised area.
HSE investigator Steven Parncutt told the jury that on projects where vehicles could come into contact with pedestrians precautions should be taken. The vehicles should ideally be removed, or if not segregated adding that:
“absolutely minimum is providing a banksman as an operative who will assist moving vehicles at walking pace.”
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.