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Deaths in 2001
Back to Top Deaths in 2002
FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS
Abdul Ghafoor Kiani, a cleaner, worked at the Land Rover Plant in Solihull. He was found dead at the bottom of a tank of coolant fluid. The body of Abdul, who worked for the Commando Cleaning Company, was discovered in the tank after he was reported missing by his family. A search was carried out after Abdul failed to return home from his job. The inquest took place on 8 November 2001 at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner’s Court. An 'Open' verdict was returned. Abdul's body was recovered from the 40,000 litre tank in the North works later that day after someone had mentioned having seen its hatch open during the day. The Coroner Aidan Cotter said Abduli died as a result of asphyxia due to inhalation of coolant fluid. According to a supervisor at the plant, Abdul's job did not involve having anything to do with the tank which was normally cleaned by specialists.
Orangzeb, a worker at the Cadbury Schweppes factory in Birmingham, died when he fell two floors down a lift shaft. An inquest
took place on 17 January 2003 at Birmingham Coroner’s Court. A verdict
of death by 'Misadventure' was returned.
Keith, a self-employed construction worker, died when he fell through the roof of a factory building. An inquest
took place on 9 October 2001 at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court. A 'Narrative'
verdict was returned which stated: 'Fell through roof and died as
a result of his injuries'. Ronald Trow
Ronald, a goods driver, died from from traumatic asphyxia as a result of the injuries sustained when trapped under a tipper lorry. An inquest took place at Walsall Coroner's Court on 23 May 2002. A verdict of 'Death due to Misadventure' was returned. In August 2003 at Wolverhampton Crown Court Biffa Waste Services of Buckinghamshire who operate the site in Coppice Lane, Walsall Wood admitted breaching the Health & Safety at Work Act in that the failed to provide a safe system of work at the landfill site.
John Kaye Owen
John died from a fractured skull as a result of a fall. An inquest took place at Coventry Coroner's Court on 21 November 2001. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
Malcolm, a police motorcyclist, was killed after responding to reports of a stolen car which he saw speeding through a red light. Nicholas Walters chased Malcolm through the streets of Birmingham, repeatedly ramming into his motorbike with a stolen car. Malcolm was thrown from his bike and impaled on a concrete bollard in front of motorists waiting in a traffic jam. Walters drove off after smashing into the rear of the motorcycle. An inquest was held at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court on 22 November 2001. A verdict of 'Murder' was returned. In November 2006 at the High Court in London Walter was found guilty of murder and Mr Justice Jack sentenced him to 18 years in jail for the murder. The 18-year term is the least Walters must serve before he can be considered for parole. Then the parole board must be satisfied he no longer poses a risk to the public.
Adela, a long term patient at Westfields Nursing Home, died owhen she fell off the roof after going through an emergency door which had been left open. An inquest was held at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court on 22 April 2002. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. Philip James Macken
Philip, a foam technician, was crushed to death when a machine, which he was repairing, automatically started up. Philip was injecting insulation foam to an internal wall panel for use in a new build home. Following a problem with the automated machine he entered the foam injection enclosure to make an adjustment. While he was inside the enclosure the machine started automatically and Philip was trapped against the machine and received crush injuries. An inquest was held at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court on 14 March 2003 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. In June 2007 Space 4 Ltd from Castle Bromwich was fined £65,000 with costs of £60,000 at Birmingham Crown Court following a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Speaking after the case HSE investigating inspector Tony Mitchell said, 'Companies need to ensure that all safety devices are fully operational. In this case properly fitted interlocks would have prevented access to the enclosure, and saved Mr Macken's life.' He continued, 'Guarding and fencing of automated machinery is a basic requirement and the standards are well known. Simple checks should be carried out to ensure workers are protected from dangerous parts and that safety features are fitted and in good order.'
John Manning
John, a painter, died of injuries sustained from a fall while working
in a cherry picker on a construction site in Birmingham city centre. Ian Michael Milligan
Ian, a factory supervisor, was crushed to death between two cylinders whilst working at Clifton Steels. Ian was using a crane to move a steel coil and was crushed when a nearby stack of coils moved. An inquest took place at Birmingham and Solihull Coroners Court from 21 to 26 March 2005. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. In May 2006 Clifton Steel Limited was fined £150,000 and costs of £20,000 were awarded to the prosecution at Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaches of health and safety legislation. The case brought by the Health and Safety Executive . The HSE said the stack had not been set up safely, meaning the smallest vibration, perhaps from the operation of the crane, could cause it to slip and move. HSE investigating inspector Mike Burd said, 'The death of Mr Milligan was the tragic result of a failure to pay full attention to the very risky business of storing and moving steel coils. In the Midlands especially there are many companies who do this sort of work, and they need to realise that common sense does not provide all the answers. 'The safe storage and movement of coils, often weighing many tonnes, should be subject to careful risk assessment, and, where necessary, expert help.'
Cyril Mewse
Cyril Mewse, a highways safety officer, was killed after his vehicle collided with traffic on a cordoned-off area of the M6 An inquest took place at Birmingham and Solihull Coroners Court on 2 May 2003 and a verdict of 'Road Traffic Accident' was returned. Neil Prestage
Neil was visiting Nightfreight (Great Britain) Limited in Willenhall when he was crushed to death by a reversing lorry. Neil was a lorry driver for another haulage firm in Southwell, An inquest took place at Black Country Coroner's court on 22 November 2005 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. In October 2006 at Wolverhampton Crown Court Nightfreight (Great Britain) Limited was fined £150,000 in a case brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Nightfreight admitted breaching health and safety legislation and was ordered to pay costs of £91,000. Speaking after the case, the HSE said Neil's death was the 'tragic result of a failure to manage workplace transport' at the site. HSE investigating inspector Dr Wai-Kin Liu said, 'Every year 70 people are killed and 2,000 more are seriously injured in incidents involving vehicles at work. Those with responsibilities for workplace transport must ensure they are complying with the law to stop this deadly toll. Carrying out a risk assessment for workplace transport and making sure that it is practical and effective is sensible health and safety.'
Michael Wilkes
Michael, a delivery driver, was killed after being hit by a forklift truck whilst undertaking a delivery to Wooley GMC Engineering Ltd An inquest took place at Coventry Coroner's court in September 2002. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. The inquest was told that Michael was walking near to a fork-lift truck and a stationery HGV articulated lorry when he was hit by the FLT which was being drivern by a Wooley GMC Engineering Ltd employee. The FLT driver said he was reversing around the front of the lorry when the collission occurred. In December 2002, Wooley GMC Engineering Ltd was fined £25,000 for breaching health and safety offences. The prosecutor stated:
Neil Morris
Neil, a line feeder and forklift driver, was killed after being hit by heavy steel boxes which fell on him whilst he was transferring containers. An inquest
took place at Coventry Coroner's court on 20 January 2003. A verdict of
'Accidental Death' was returned.
Patrick Walton
Patrick, a mechanic, was crushed to death by a lorry, on which he had been working, rolled on top of him. He was preparing the lorry for an MOT test at the time. He had started the engine of a Leyland DAF lorry which was in gear at the time An inquest took place at Sandwell Coroner's Court on 13 November 2002 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
Troy Tattam
Troy, a construction worker, was killed after being hit by a JCB forklift truck at a Fairclough Homes site. An inquest took place at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court in April 2005 when verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. The inquest jury heard that Troy had been leaning over with a saw moments before he died. Colleague Trevor Collett, who witnessed the death, told the court Troy had been wearing a fluorescent jacket and hard hat but had not been seen by the truck driver before the incident. He He said, 'I saw the fork lift truck reverse back and then go forward. We shouted and shouted. The fork lift truck was over Troy's chest.'
Philip Bates
Phillip, an employee of C U Phosco Lighting, was killed when the petrol tank of a car he was welding exploded . An inquest took place at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court on 2 April 2003 and returned a verdict of 'Accidental Death'. John Harasym
John, a demolition worker, died after the roof of a building at the former Meco Mining headquarters in Northway Lane, Tewksbury, fell onto him. An inquest took place at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court on the 23 June 2004. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. David Baughan
David, a construction worker, died from electrocution after apparently reaching out and grabbing a live thermostat when he slipped while working at a Coventry Community Centre. An inquest took place at Coventry Coroner's Court on 2 December 2003 when an 'Open' verdict was returned. The inquest investigated how the thermostat's wiring had become exposed. A photograph of the accident scene showed the thermostat in pieces, with a screwdriver and loose screws next to it on the floor. Electrician Russell McDonald said he altered the thermostat's position, but left it secure on November 18. Caretaker Paul Ramsey said he complained to Mr Linnett the thermostat was too high for staff to use safely, but denied he had tried to move it. David's daughter, Lisa Barlow, told the inquest, 'Dad knew the dangers of electricity. He wouldn't have taken a risk.' As Coroner David Sarginson tried to establish the cause of the accident, he questioned the response of police and the Health and Safety Executive, (HSE) which was were called in to investigate. He asked why the screwdriver and thermostat were not checked for fingerprints 'given the potential' that a charge of manslaughter could be needed. But the HSE had warned the process of trying to retrieve fingerprints could corrode the evidence, and Inspector Ryan Howett, who led the police investigation, said he had taken advice from trained scenes of crime experts. A HSE report has since advised the city council about safety at its community centres.
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