The owner of a recovery and repair company has been jailed for 10 months after an employee died when a flatbed fell on him.
Joseph Jones of Bootle-based JJ Tyres & Recovery was jailed at a Liverpool Crown Court hearing following the death of Kenneth McCord. The court heard that McCord was assisting in the removal of the flat rear bed of a tipper van when the hydraulic system was released without the support arm being in place. The flatbed then fell and crushed him while he was working underneath it. Jones and two other employees on-site managed to get McCord out from under the tipper bed and the chassis of the vehicle. He appeared shaken, but was still able to talk and have a drink of water.
However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said that shortly afterwards McCord’s condition started to rapidly deteriorate, and an ambulance was called. He was taken to Aintree hospital where it was found he was suffering from significant internal injuries caused by the crushing. McCord underwent surgery, but later died from his injuries.
An HSE investigation found Jones had no risk assessments, safe systems of work, or lifting plan. The company did not provide staff with adequate training or make them aware of the dangers associated with removing the flatbed from a vehicle.
