THE death of a recycling plant worker who suffered fatal injuries inside an industrial machine that was switched on was an accident, an inquest found.
Simon Hogg, 47, was clearing a blockage in a trommel, a large cylindrical drum used to separate waste, with a colleague at the John Wade recycling plant, at Aycliffe Village, near Newton Aycliffe, on December 12, 2015.
A jury on the fourth day of an inquest at Crook Coroner’s Court today returned a conclusion of accidental death.
- John Wade waste centre worker Simon Hogg died after being trapped in drum
- Delay between workers being found in Newton Aycliffe waste centre drum
- John Wade recycling centre worker ran until he fell, inquest told
Speaking after the hearing, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, Michael Kingston, who gave evidence, said the death of Mr Hogg, of Hurworth Place, near Darlington, should serve as a warning.
He said: “Investigations continue by the HSE but this incident should be a warning to businesses of the risks associated with close machine intervention and their duty to ensure that robust, effective power isolation systems and procedures are in place.”
Simon Hogg died as a result of an accident at the John Wade recycling plant, at Aycliffe Village, near Newton Aycliffe, an inquest found
The 11-member jury previously heard from 12 witnesses, ten of which gave their evidence in person.
They were told labourers Mr Hogg and Mr Garrett, who suffered life-changing injuries, had climbed into the trommel to clear a blockage caused by paper which was being run through the line as an experiment to make animal bedding at the request of site manager David Basham.
CCTV footage of the 25-minute lead up to and during the incident was shown to the jury by the HSE twice during the inquest.
Mr Kingston said it showed banksman David McEntaggert chatting and working on the line inside a cabin, known as the picking shed, with Mr Hogg and Mr Garrett in the immediate moments before they climbed in.
He told the court the recording also showed Mr McEntaggert and Mr Basham standing in the area at the exit of the trommel before entering the cabin where Mr Basham used a pole to reach towards the machinery control panel and where Mr McEntaggert assisted - at which point the conveyor belt and trommel is understood to have been switched on.
Assistant coroner Oliver Longstaff said it was evident no attempt was made to safely lock off the machine.
He added there was no evidence to suggest it was switched on intentionally and directed the jury to accept it as accidental.
Principal inspector for the HSE, Victoria Wise, said the HSE would now review the case and decide “what if any” criminal charges should be brought.
On behalf of the HSE and police, she gave her condolences to the family of Mr Hogg, adding: “No one should be put at risk as to be injured or lose their life at work.”
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