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Kirkby factory deaths due to safety failures, inquest finds Kirkby factory deaths due to safety failures, inquest finds
(2 months later)
The company in charge of a factory where two engineers were killed when they were dragged into a conveyor belt could face criminal charges after an inquest found that procedures were not followed.The company in charge of a factory where two engineers were killed when they were dragged into a conveyor belt could face criminal charges after an inquest found that procedures were not followed.
James Bibby, 25, and Thomas Elmer, 27, died while working on a 45m-tall silo at the Sonae factory in Kirkby, Merseyside, on 7 December 2010.James Bibby, 25, and Thomas Elmer, 27, died while working on a 45m-tall silo at the Sonae factory in Kirkby, Merseyside, on 7 December 2010.
The deaths of the two engineers were caused by a failure to follow procedures and isolate the machinery the two sub-contractors were working on, an inquest jury at Bootle town hall has found.The deaths of the two engineers were caused by a failure to follow procedures and isolate the machinery the two sub-contractors were working on, an inquest jury at Bootle town hall has found.
In a narrative verdict, the jury said the two men from Rossendale, Lancashire, had not been shown how to isolate the conveyor belt from the power supply.In a narrative verdict, the jury said the two men from Rossendale, Lancashire, had not been shown how to isolate the conveyor belt from the power supply.
"It is our view that the death of each man was the result of a failure to adopt appropriate procedures," the jury found."It is our view that the death of each man was the result of a failure to adopt appropriate procedures," the jury found.
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "We are carrying out a thorough investigation into the deaths of James Bibby and Thomas Elmer and will now carefully consider the inquest's findings before deciding whether it is appropriate to bring criminal charges."A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "We are carrying out a thorough investigation into the deaths of James Bibby and Thomas Elmer and will now carefully consider the inquest's findings before deciding whether it is appropriate to bring criminal charges."
Earlier, the inquest heard from John Moutrie, a specialist mechanical inspector for the HSE, who told the jury of four women and eight men that the tragic incident occurred while the work was carried out without the conveyor belt being isolated.Earlier, the inquest heard from John Moutrie, a specialist mechanical inspector for the HSE, who told the jury of four women and eight men that the tragic incident occurred while the work was carried out without the conveyor belt being isolated.
Moutrie questioned the Sonae safety procedures and the permit to work, which he said outlined how a permit issuer – or staff member responsible for safety – should have checked that the machine was isolated.Moutrie questioned the Sonae safety procedures and the permit to work, which he said outlined how a permit issuer – or staff member responsible for safety – should have checked that the machine was isolated.
He said the staff member in question was "apparently not trained" and "may not have been competent to authorise the permit to work procedure".He said the staff member in question was "apparently not trained" and "may not have been competent to authorise the permit to work procedure".
The inquest heard the conveyor belt was triggered automatically as factory machinery started to dump wood chips into the silo.The inquest heard the conveyor belt was triggered automatically as factory machinery started to dump wood chips into the silo.
The two men were working on one of four silos – described as the overflow silo, which was used when the three other silos were full up.The two men were working on one of four silos – described as the overflow silo, which was used when the three other silos were full up.
The jury was told that before the incident both men were fit and healthy and toxicology tests confirmed that no alcohol or drugs were found in their systems.The jury was told that before the incident both men were fit and healthy and toxicology tests confirmed that no alcohol or drugs were found in their systems.
A post-mortem examination found that both men died from multiple injuries.A post-mortem examination found that both men died from multiple injuries.
The chipboard factory closed last September with the loss of 220 jobs following two fires and a number of health and safety-related issues.The chipboard factory closed last September with the loss of 220 jobs following two fires and a number of health and safety-related issues.
A spokesman for the company said: "Sonae had a permit to work system in place which, had it been followed, would have prevented the tragic accident.A spokesman for the company said: "Sonae had a permit to work system in place which, had it been followed, would have prevented the tragic accident.
"It will be of little consolation but our thoughts remain with the families of Thomas Elmer and James Bibby.""It will be of little consolation but our thoughts remain with the families of Thomas Elmer and James Bibby."
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