Bradford & District | Archive | 2005 | July | 11
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Monday 11th Jul 2005.
The family of a Bradford man who was crushed to death at a timber yard is seeking a meeting with health and safety experts probing the tragedy.
John Crossley, 52, had been working on a stacking machine at Ramsey Timber in Welling-ton Street, Laisterdyke, when the accident happened in February.
Mr Crossley, of Parsonage Road, Laisterdyke, was found trapped by a colleague who tried to revive him. Paramedics then battled to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead.
The Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation, which has now almost been completed, and an inquest jury will decide on the circumstances of Mr Crossley's death.
But his family, who had been keen to get more information about the investigation, are hoping to meet with HSE officials.
Mr Crossley's sister-in-law, Pat Crossley, 58, said they had been contacted by the Centre
for Corporate Accountability, which gives advice on work related deaths.
Mrs Crossley, of West Bowling, said: "The CCA has been in touch and is hoping to organise a meeting between us and the HSE.
"We had a letter from the HSE a couple of days after John died saying they were looking into it, but we have heard nothing since, and we have not been contacted by the police.
"The length of time the investigation is taking is frustrating. I realise it does take time, but we just want to get on with the inquest and find out the truth. We want justice for John."
The family is planning to be legally represented at the inquest, which will be held later this year.
Mrs Crossley added: "Although we have had John's funeral, we cannot put him to rest totally and it is hanging over the whole family."
Mr Crossley, a big Bradford City fan, had worked for Ramsey Timber for about six years.
Julian Franklin, the investigating inspector for the HSE, said he had carried out interviews with appropriate witnesses and would now be compiling a report, which would be sent to the Coroner.
He added: "The Coroner will hold an inquest after which we will make up our minds as to whether to take any action."
Mr Franklin said the options would include prosecuting the company or individual employees if there had been breaches of health and safety legislation, enforcement action or written advice. The Executive would take no action if there were no lessons to be learned from the incident.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said there had been no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death so the investigation had been passed to the Coroner.
A spokesman for the Coroner said there was no date fixed yet for the inquest, which is expected to last several days.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008