Factory worker's death was accidental

A "METICULOUS" factory worker was accidentally crushed to death just two weeks after receiving health and safety training.

Robert Moore died while working at MTU UK Limited at the Birches Industrial estate in East Grinstead, an inquest was told on Tuesday.

Postmortem results found he had suffered a blunt force trauma to his chest and head.

Simon Maurice Poole, who carried out the postmortem, said: "Mr Moore was struck by a heavy engine and pinned against a heavy machine."

Mr Moore, 54, from Gainsbrough Road, Crawley, was killed at the warehouse in East Grinstead, last February.

The incident has since been investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Representing the HSE at the inquest, held at Horsham Coroner's Court, David Rudland ran through the layout of the workshop at MTU and the events of February 19 last year.

He said: "The engine was lifted off the back of the trolley and on to another trolley.

"The crane itself is controlled by a pendant which hangs. Using the controls on the pendant moves the crane forwards and backwards.

"At the time of the accident Rob was lifting the engine off the trolley and placed it into a bay to be worked on."

Workshop engineer Robert Buhlman, who was present at the time of the incident, said: "Rob was thorough with what he did.

"Rob loved his job. I had big respect for him and the way he went about things. He was very professional."

"I was aware the engine had been delivered. The next thing I was aware of was I heard the crane being moved and a cry from Rob, that made me turn in his direction. I saw the back part of the engine with the generator swing towards Rob and he jumped back and the rest of the engine followed. He was moving backwards and it hit him."

Service engineer Barry Gregory, who was also in the workshop at the time, said he heard Rob shout for help.

He said: "I walked between the engine and the parts trolley, I then saw Rob in between the crane and the parts trolley. I said "Are you alright?" to Rob and saw him slip towards the floor. I shouted for someone to call an ambulance."

John Brown, from Demag Components Ltd told the inquest he carried out staff training at MTU on February 4, two weeks before the incident.

He said: "The whole of the training course is based on safety and we deal with the Health and Safety at Work Act. We go through the operating instructions page by page, word by word."

David Swaite from the Health and Safety Executive said the accident would have been unlikely to have happened if a series of unfortunate things had not taken place.

Since the accident, MTU has changed the control pendant to one which requires two hands to make the cranes operate.

Chief executive from MTU paid tribute to Rob as "the best person".

He said: "If I found another 10 Robs, I would employ every one. Losing Rob has been tragic and very upsetting and something we're all still dealing with."

Coroner Penelope Scholfield recorded a verdict of accidental death after a jury returned the verdict that "during a pause in the operation the pendant control of the crane became lodged in a part of the engine, which cause a button to be depressed. This activated the crane causing the engine to move and hit the deceased resulting in fatal injuries".