Details
of Work-Related Deaths in the County
of Isle of Wight since April 2001 |
Deaths
in 2001
Deaths
in 2002
Deaths in 2003
Deaths
in 2004
Deaths
in 2005
Deaths
in 2006
Deaths
in 2007
| last updated 31 March 2008 |
Deaths in 2001
No details
of deaths available
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Deaths in 2002
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of deaths available
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Deaths in 2003
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of deaths available
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Deaths in 2004
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of deaths available
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Deaths in 2005
Click on
the names below for further case details
|
Name |
Age |
Date
of death |
Status |
Local
Authority |
Industry |
Immediate Employer |
| PETTITT |
Margaret |
53 |
6 December |
Worker |
Isle of Wight |
Public Services |
Isle of Wight Council |
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Deaths in 2006
Click on
the names below for further case details
|
Name |
Age |
Date
of death |
Status |
Local
Authority |
Industry |
Immediate Employer |
| LAKE |
John |
66 |
9 October |
|
|
Construction |
Self-employed |
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Deaths in 2007
No details
of deaths available
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FURTHER
DETAILS OF DEATHS
Margaret Pettitt
| Name |
Age |
Date
of death |
Status |
Local
Authority |
Industry |
Immediate Employer |
| Margaret Pettitt |
53 |
6 December 2005 |
Worker |
Isle of Wight |
Public Services |
Isle of Wight Council |
Margaret died on 6 December 2005 of a pulmonary thrombo-embolism (blood clot on the lung) and deep vein thrombosis, around 12 days after having a plaster put on her left leg at St Mary’s Hospital after tripping on stairs at school and straining ligaments as she worked on Sunday 20 November to prepare for an Ofsted inspection.
She went to Accident and Emergency the next day but instead of resting it and keeping it elevated as advised, she went to work for the next two days because of the Ofsted inspection. It was only after returning to St Mary’s that a plaster was fitted on Thursday, November 24, after which Margaret stayed at home for the next nine days.
The inquest
was held at Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court sitting in Newport on 21 June 2007.
A verdict of 'Accidental death contributed to by neglect' was returned.
The inquest was told a call was made to NHS Direct after Margaret suffered excruciating stomach pains but, because of a mistake, the first call was logged as no action to be taken and she was not referred to the out-of-hours IDOC service.
Coroner John Matthews said this was simple human error, but did not amount to neglect in the legal form.
It was not until 11am the following day, Sunday, December 4, that Margaret was diagnosed with a suspected DVT and pulmonary embolism by Dr Louay Al-Mukhtar at IDOC, who arranged for admission to the medical assessment unit at St Mary’s.
Mr Matthews said, 'This did not happen and it seems she had never received any medication at all — and this is the crucial matter — until the evening of the Sunday and then only part of the medication, the heparin.
'This is a fast-acting agent but the warfarin was not administered until Monday, December 5, and would not have had any effect on her for 48 hours. The administration of the heparin might have had a marked effect if it had been done on the Sunday morning. There has been no explanation from the hospital as to why there was this delay in formal diagnosis and, more importantly, the administration of medication, no explanation of any satisfactory nature at all,' said Mr Matthews. Mr Matthews said it was unfortunate that Mrs Pettitt was seen by so many different doctors, without any form of co-ordination.
Margaret's condition worsened overnight on December 5 and she died after suffering four cardiac arrests, despite the strenuous efforts of staff in the intensive care unit to resuscitate her.
After the inquest Mr Pettitt said he would be seeking legal advice, adding he was 'surprised and dismayed' the hospital was not represented at the inquest.
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John Lake
| Name |
Age |
Date
of death |
Status |
Local
Authority |
Industry |
Immediate Employer |
| John Lake |
66 |
9 October 2006 |
|
|
Construction |
Self-employed |
John died in a fall while boarding up a long-disused former bank building in Wootton High Street. John was called in by owner Dr Mark Patterson to re-board the windows of the building days after a fire. Mr Lake had first boarded it up some years before.
The inquest
was held at Isle of Wight Coroner’s Court sitting in Newport on 10 May 2007.
A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.
Senior Health and Safety Executive inspector Charles Gilbey said analysis of a report into John ’s death showed he had all but completed the job at lunchtime and was halfway through boarding the last and highest window. There was a half-inserted screw in the boarding and diagonal marks across it that could have been caused as he fell, taking the lightweight DIY ladder with him.
'It was most likely that he was over-stretching and fell. I don’t think a ladder was unreasonable to use for the job but this one was too short,' said Mr Gilbey.
Questioned by the family’s legal representative, Lynn Webb, over whose responsibility it was to carry out a risk assessment for the job, Mr Gilbey said, 'I would say he carried out his own risk assessment and the ladder he had was adequate, for all but the top window. It is not for me to say at this stage whether there will be any prosecution.'
Det Sgt Nick Heelan said John, who had been working alone, appeared to have fallen head-first on to the concrete from a height of about 25ft.
Stephen Healey said his stepfather was an experienced builder who in recent years suffered a minor injury in a fall while carrying materials up a ladder and slipped on a stepladder.
Recording the verdict, Coroner John Matthews said there had been no evidence that Dr Patterson had directed how John should do the work.
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