'Failings' by firm over death of Wednesfield forklift driver
A firm failed to produce crucial safety documents relating to the training of an employee who was crushed to death when a forklift truck he was driving overturned and landed on top of him, an inquest heard.
Mohammed Yasin, aged 37, was working at Recycled Paper UK Ltd, on Neachells Lane, Wednesfield, when he became trapped under the forklift truck he was using to stack bales of paper.
An inquest at Smethwick Council House heard that the management had failed to provide sufficient documents, including Mr Yasin's forklift truck driver's certificate.
Black Country Senior Coroner Robin Balmain concluded the death was accidental. The jury said there were several factors involved in Mr Yasin's death, including the fact he had received insufficient training to operate a forklift truck. They also said the management of Recycled Paper UK Ltd had failed to implement a proper health and safety procedure and had not communicated the health and safety policy to all staff.
Speaking after the inquest, Mr Yasin's wife, Zahida Kauser, 32, said: "The family are very grateful to the coroner and the jury for this outcome and the thorough way they have looked into my husband's death. We feel there were significant failings on the part of the company."
The family is considering taking legal action.
Work colleagues told the inquest Mr Yasin, from Winson Green, had not received the required health and safety training.
Dr Dominic Swan, mechanical engineering expert for the Health and Safety Executive, said Mr Yasin was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident on January 4. Recycled Paper UK boss Chater Pal Jandu described the effort to get staff to wear seatbelts as a 'constant battle'.
He said Mr Yasin's forklift truck driver's certificate had been destroyed in a fire.
