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Crane stop button not used before delivery driver was crushed to death in East Bridgford
Overview
An inquest into the death of 60-year-old delivery driver Nigel Williamson has heard that an emergency stop switch on a crane was not pushed as required before he was fatally crushed at a housing development in East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. Williamson, who had worked for KRM Building Supplies for less than three weeks, was found injured on the back of a crane-mounted lorry on 13 August last year. A forensic pathologist concluded that significant pelvic injuries led to cardiac arrest, with pre-existing heart problems contributing to his death. The inquest continues.
Key points
- Nigel Williamson died after being found injured on the back of a crane-mounted lorry at the Kneeton Grove housing development on 13 August.
- A forensic pathologist found that severe pelvic injuries led to a cardiac arrest, with pre-existing heart conditions contributing to his death.
- The inquest heard that an emergency stop button on the crane's remote control should be pressed when not being manoeuvred, which is considered a 'golden rule'.
- Footage shown to the jury revealed that a colleague acting as Williamson's 'buddy' had previously failed to use the emergency stop button on 30 July.
- The remote control was found still turned on and live inside a tonne bag of gravel, with its operating lever snapped off.
- The managing director of KRM Building Supplies stated that the safety mechanism relies manually on the operator to isolate the remote control.