Bradford & District | Archive | 2004 | February | 25
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Wednesday 25th Feb 2004.
A binman who died after being run over by his own dustbin wagon might have stepped into a blind spot behind the vehicle, an inquest heard.
David Hall, 54, suffered multiple injuries in the incident in Holme Wood, Bradford, and died at the scene.
The inquest heard how Mr Hall, of Sandygate Terrace, Tyersal, Bradford, and colleague Paul McNamara were helping driver Mark Hunt as he reversed in Kesteven Court.
Mr McNamara, who was at the front of the wagon, said he saw Mr Hall, who had been a binman for 20 years, walk across the back of it shortly before his death on December 12 last year.
"There was no chance to warn him - he came out between the front wheels," he said.
PC Steven Mullaney said the vehicle was fitted with a CCTV camera, but its purpose was to show the mechanism at the back while bins were being loaded, not as a reversing aid.
West Yorkshire Police accident investigation officer Robert Crispin said his conclusion was that the vehicle reversed over Mr Hall, who was at the back of the wagon.
As a qualified and experienced HGV driver, Mr Crispin said, Mr Hunt would have used the camera as an aid while reversing in conjunction with the mirrors.
"The camera covered much of the bin-lift area at the back of the vehicle, but there were still blind spots," he said.
The jury returned a verdict of misadventure.
Today, Terry Patten, chairman of the Bradford branch of the GMB union which includes refuse workers, said the wagon and the working practices were always reviewed and investigated after an accident of any kind.
"Bradford Council has internally looked at every aspect of the issue and we have no concerns about this area," he said.
"It was a very unfortunate and tragic accident."
Richard Wixey, Bradford Council's director of environmental protection and waste management, said: "We would like to extend our sympathies to David's family at this sad and
difficult time."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008