An HGV driver was crushed to death when hay bales he was delivering to a site in Cheshire fell from his vehicle.
An inquest heard how Tony Williams, 45, had driven from Suffolk to deliver the 33 bales and had reversed down a public domain road with a slope of 4.5 degrees, comparable to a wheelchair ramp.
Williams was then witnessed by a farmhand unstrapping his load when three of the bales, which had been loaded width ways and in the opposite direction to the rest of the delivery, fell from the back.
The farmhand used his telehandler to remove two bales that had fallen on Williams and administered CPR until an ambulance arrived. However, despite additional measures taken by paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene on 2 December 2020.
An investigation into the incident found that it would have been avoided if Williams had not unloaded overhanging bales facing downhill.
The senior coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, has now written to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requesting it address the issue.
In her report, she said: “During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.
“It became apparent that there were no clear images in the guidance or support materials produced by HSE to assist drivers who load and unload bales.”
Devonish added that the HSE must respond within 56 days explaining what action will be taken.
