INQUEST: TIPPER TRUCK DEATH REMAINS MYSTERY

Crush death of construction firm MD baffles HSE experts

It has been reported by This is Hull that an inquest into the death of Ian Woolfitt, aged 65, found trapped in the hydraulic mechanism of an tipper truck, was unable to establish how the death occurred. HSE experts who spent hours “painstakingly analysing parts” were unable to say why the tragedy had happened.

Mr Woolfitt, who founded Wold Construction Ltd in 1991, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at a haulage yard near Driffield, Yorkshire on April 24 2012.

The inquest heard it is thought Mr Woolfitt may have been retrieving a spare tyre stored within the chassis and accessible only when the tipper truck is in the upright position. HSE Inspector Dr Angus Robbins told the jury:

“We could find no fault that would have caused the unexpected lowering of the tipper. Whatever has caused it, we could not repeat it. There is no suggestion of third-party involvement, so I can only assume a fault developed, but we cannot replicate it.”

Richard Lee, an electrical specialist at the Health and Safety Laboratory in Derbyshire, arrived at the same conclusion, adding:

“We could not find any evidence of equipment failure.”

This article was posted on 22nd April 2013 in ALL LATEST NEWS, INQUESTS.
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INQUEST: TIPPER TRUCK DEATH REMAINS MYSTERY

Crush death of construction firm MD baffles HSE experts

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