Coroner calls for action following death of forklift driver, 30, who was trapped under railings at depot

A coroner has issued a warning following the tragic death of forklift driver Gary Lee James, who suffered fatal injuries at a Teesside haulage firm. The 30-year-old employee became trapped by metal railings inside a shipping container at Ward Brothers in South Bank on January 8, 2019.

Fatal Workplace Accident at Teesside Haulage Firm

Gary Lee James, who lived in Middlesbrough, was found unresponsive at the Dormor Way depot, where emergency services performed CPR before rushing him to James Cook University Hospital. Despite receiving medical care, he suffered a severe brain injury and sadly passed away two days later.

An inquest at Teesside Coroner’s Court in January 2024 revealed multiple safety failures contributed to his death. The jury’s narrative conclusion stated:

“Gary died at James Cook University Hospital from injuries sustained in being trapped by metal frames at Ward Bros on January 8, 2019.”

The investigation found that no proper risk assessment or safety procedures were in place before employees began working on devanning welded containers.

Coroner Issues Prevention of Future Deaths Report (PFD)

Following the inquest, Senior Coroner Clare Bailey issued a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report, urging urgent safety improvements. The report highlighted major concerns, including:

• No risk assessment or documented safe working procedures for new tasks.
• Employees working under hazardous conditions without proper safety measures.
• Inadequate training for workers handling new tasks.
• Use of unsafe equipment for unfamiliar work.
• Lack of proper PPE for employees.
• Failure to address employees’ health and safety concerns.
• A culture of employees being expected to “get on with a task” despite dangers.
• No trained first aider on-site before emergency services arrived.
• Lack of supervision for employees performing dangerous tasks.

Ward Brothers has been given 56 days to respond to the report, outlining the actions taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. If no action is planned, they must provide a justification.

‘The Whole Family is Broken’ – Grieving Family Seeks Answers

Gary’s heartbroken family attended the inquest, expressing their deep grief and ongoing search for answers. His father shared an emotional statement, saying:

Body Found in Search for Missing Twenty-three Year Old Runner Jenny Hall

“We’ve lost the future. Gary may have had children that would have been our grandchildren. The whole family is broken, and it’s a link that can never be fixed. We don’t understand what happened. How did Gary go to work and not come home?”

How the Tragic Incident Happened

The inquest revealed that Gary had only been employed at Ward Brothers for three months before the accident.

His employer had recently secured a shipping contract with Asda, involving the transportation of containers from China to Teesport. On the morning of January 8, 2019, Gary was inside a container at the depot when he became trapped under a 150kg metal railing/framework.

At 7:15 AM, a work call alerted the former transport manager about the accident. A second call at 7:27 AM reported that Gary was in cardiac arrest, urging his next of kin to be contacted.

Cause of Death and Medical Findings

A post-mortem examination conducted by pathologist Dr. David Scoones concluded that Gary died from ischemic cerebral injury following cardiac arrest due to asphyxia, caused by pressure on the head, neck, and chest from a metal structure.

‘Gary Was a Brilliant Worker’ – Former Manager Speaks Out

Gary’s former manager described him as a hardworking and well-liked employee, stating:

“Gary was a nice bloke and a brilliant worker. He never had any issues in his work.”

Ward Brothers’ Response to the Tragedy

At the time of the incident, Ward Brothers released a brief statement, saying:

“Regrettably, a member of staff at Ward Brothers was seriously injured in an incident at our depot on Tuesday and is now in hospital. Our thoughts are with the person’s family at this difficult time, and we will provide them with any support necessary. We will cooperate with the authorities as part of any investigation. No further statement will be given at this time.”

With the PFD report now in place, the company is expected to implement safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The tragic death of Gary Lee James has highlighted serious safety failings at Ward Brothers. The lack of risk assessments, inadequate training, and unsafe working conditions contributed to his fatal injuries.

With a Prevention of Future Deaths report now issued, Ward Brothers must take urgent action to improve workplace safety and prevent further loss of life. Meanwhile, Gary’s grieving family continues to seek answers and justice for their devastating loss.

SOURCE