Former Haulage Company Manager Admits Safety Failings After Fatal Forklift Incident

A former manager at a haulage company has admitted to safety failings after a forklift driver, Gary Lee James, suffered fatal injuries when he was trapped by metal railings.

Mr James was employed by Ward Brothers in South Bank when he became pinned down by railings in a shipping container on January 8, 2019. Teesside Coroner's Court heard that emergency services rushed to the Dormor Way depot and performed CPR after the 30-year-old was found unresponsive.

The employee, who resided on Ida Road in Middlesbrough, sustained a brain injury in the incident and, despite receiving medical care, passed away two days later at James Cook University Hospital.

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding Mr James' death is currently underway and has heard from his colleagues. The former transport manager provided documentary evidence stating that Mr James had been employed at the company since October 2018 and had various responsibilities including warehouse work and operating a forklift.

According to the manager's statement, Ward Brothers secured a shipping contract for Asda in December 2018, which involved moving goods from China to Teesport. On the morning of January 8, Mr James was inside a container at the depot when he became trapped under a metal framework weighing approximately 150kg.

The former manager recounted receiving a call at 7.15am, requesting him to come in early due to an accident involving Mr James. Shortly after, he received another call informing him that Mr James was in cardiac arrest and needed immediate assistance.

The inquest heard that a post-mortem examination conducted by pathologist Dr David Scoones concluded that the cause of death was 'ischemic cerebral injury' resulting from cardiac arrest due to asphyxia caused by pressure from the metal structure.

The former manager characterised Mr James as a brilliant worker, stating he had trained him in-house on dismantling the frames and praised his competence. The manager expressed his shock and sadness over the incident, suggesting that correct procedures might have prevented the accident.

During the proceedings, the former manager acknowledged safety failings. Senior Coroner Clare Bailey highlighted that another worker stated that the processes used for devanning the containers were unsafe, to which the former manager agreed.

The jury was informed that improvements have been made at Ward Brothers since the incident. In response to a previous accident, the business expressed their condolences and offered support to Mr James' family while committing to co-operation with authorities in the ongoing investigation.

The inquest also heard from Mr James' family, who are still seeking answers five years later. A statement from Gary's father conveyed the family's profound loss, stating that they had lost the future and could never mend the broken link.

The inquest continues.