Inquest opens on worker who died after Wednesbury factory explosion
An inquest has opened into a man who died after a tank exploded at a Wednesbury factory causing multiple injuries.
Raymond Wyman, from Pensnett, was working ad-hoc at KTC Edibles Limited, in Heath Road, when the explosion happened on October 31.
Mr Wyman had been working at the top of the four metre tank, which was used by former site owners Caparo to store methanol, Black Country Coroners Court heard.
He had been using an oxy propane cutting torch on top of the tank, which contained methanol. The inquest heard that the torch was believed to have ignited the methanol, causing an explosion.
Mr Wyman was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham but died on November 8.
Speaking at the inquest, Detective Sergeant Rob Bastin, from West Midlands Police, said: "It was a large warehouse that used to be owned by Caparo. It then went into receivership and KTC Edibles Limited bought it in order to store food stuff.
"KTC employed two contractors to do building work including NKD Machinery Limited. At the time Mr Wyman was self-employed but was employed by the owners of NKD to do ad-hoc labour work.
"There was an explosion and believed ignition of the methanol, and the tank he was working on toppled over. Inquiries are on-going."
Amanda James, from the Health and Safety Executive construction division, confirmed the tank had contained methanol.
"We understand there was an employment type relationship in regards to health and safety with the company," she said.
Senior coroner Zafar Siddique adjourned the inquest until January 31 and requested representatives for both companies to attend.
