Dominique Smith, instructed by Grant Incles and Sophie Connolly of Russell-Cooke solicitors, acted for the family of a man who died when he was trapped beneath a falling vehicle at work.
Ashley Bullard was a vehicle technician at Wheel Art Limited (now known as Precision Bodyshop Limited). On 28th November 2018, he raised a vehicle at work with a Bendpak XPR-9 two-post lift, to complete a service. As he worked underneath the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly began to move. Ashley tried to move out of the way, however the vehicle nosedived forwards off the lift, causing him a fatal head injury.
After Ashley’s death, an investigation revealed that the bolts in the arm gear restraint rings of the lift were not of the correct grading and were loose, a safety catch on the lift did not work properly, the lift did not conform to the current European standards in respect of measured strength, and there was excessive freeplay. A washer was also missing on one of the arm gear restraint rings. Although a service of the lift had been completed 8 months before the incident, there were no maintenance records of daily, weekly, and monthly safety checks being carried out on the lift.
During the inquest, the following transpired in the evidence:
At the inquest, the jury recorded a narrative conclusion. They found that Wheel Art had not completed a thorough examination of the lift, in accordance with LOLER, and that the lift had a mixture of strengths of bolts and a missing washer. The jury found that Ashley placed the vehicle on the recommended outer lifting points. They considered that the freeplay within the arms of the lift contributed to the car not being held by the lift. They also considered that the combination of the alignment of the pads on the lifting points, the work being carried out on the car, and the freeplay within the lift arms contributed to the car falling and caused Ashley’s death.
Assistant Coroner, Michael Walsh, proceeded to raise concerns in respect of the prevention of future deaths, which will be addressed to eight organisations.
Ashley’s mother, Jackie Bullard, said “Ashley died over 4 years ago and, until now, we have never really understood what happened. Thanks to the Coroner’s thorough and detailed investigation, we have the answers we have needed for so long and can finally explain to his children what happened. If the Coroner’s wide-ranging recommendations to improve future safety conditions in car workshops can prevent even one family having to go through what we have, we can feel that Ashley’s death wasn’t completely in vain. Ashley was such a valued member of our family who is missed dreadfully and was dearly loved.”
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