Worker died of chest injury at Wolverhampton skip hire site
A labourer from Wolverhampton died after hitting the ground and suffering serious injuries while working at a skip hire firm in the city, an inquest heard today.
A labourer from Wolverhampton died after hitting the ground and suffering serious injuries while working at a skip hire firm in the city, an inquest heard today.
Jagpal Singh died at New Cross Hospital after getting injured while working at Bilston Skip Hire. The hearing at Smethwick Coroner's Office heard today that 24-year-old Mr Singh, of Bilston Road, died of chest injuries on June 28.
West Midlands Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the circumstances of his death.
Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain told the inquest: "The initial information suggests he was working on or in a large industrial skip.
"It is not clear whether he fell to the ground or he was knocked to the ground. But I was told there was a JCB in that area being operated by another worker."
Mr Balmain said the precise circumstances of the incident were unclear. He added: "The initial cause of death was a chest injury."
The coroner decided to order a second post mortem because he said there was the possibility of criminal proceedings. He adjourned the inquest for further investigations to take place.
After the second post mortem is carried out, the body will be released as Mr Singh's family wishes to repatriate him to India.
The skip hire firm, on the New Enterprise Estate, in Monmore Road, has not been operational since the tragedy last month. Bilston Skip Hire has now been taken over by city-based firm Blitz Recycling.
Blitz Recycling manager Annil Kumar said today: "Bilston Skip Hire has now closed. We took over just after the incident so we can't really comment on what happened at the end of June."
Blitz Recycling is based in Woden Road, Heath Town.
Mr Kumar added: "The Bilston site is not operational at the moment."
Bilston Skip Hire previously made headlines in June last year when it was handed a fine for repeatedly burning waste without permission. The company was initially given a £40,000 fine but it was reduced by £10,000 when a judge ruled it could not afford to pay the sum.
By Naomi Dunning
