Worker's hand nearly lost in machinery hours before tragedy, inquest hears
Machinery which crushed and killed a delivery driver nearly took off a colleague's hand less than 24 hours earlier, an inquest has heard.
Gary Pickering died when his head became trapped between the back of his lorry and its tail lift on September 10, 2013.
On the second day of the inquest at Smethwick Council House a jury was shown CCTV footage from the night before when fellow TJ Morris driver Paul Finch made at delivery with the same trailer to the same store in Dudley.
It showed Mr Finch using both his hands to manually pull out the tail lift when it suddenly sprung back and he was forced to quickly remove his hands.
Mr Pickering, who was 34, had also been attempting to lower the tail lift into the correct position when it jolted back and trapped him. He was found two hours later by a security guard.
Mr Finch told the inquest he had seen the machinery suddenly snap in the same way 'three of four' times before.
He added in a statement he was more cautious lowering the lift the next time as it had 'nearly took my hand off'.
The inquest also heard from TJ Morris driver Steven Owen who raised concerns about the loading platform and lighting at the delivery area of Home Bargains in the Churchill Precinct where Mr Pickering was killed.
He said: "In my opinion the platform there isn't fit for purpose because of the width of the vehicle we use.
"There is not enough room to carry out company procedures correctly."
He added: "The lighting is a bit hit and miss. On occasions it has been pitch dark.
"If you are there late at night the lights are off. We generally get there around midnight."
Mr Finch told the inquest when he delivered to the store he parked his trailer further from the wall than other drivers so he had more leverage with which to operate the tail lift.
He added the lighting 'was not ideal' but enough to carry out a delivery.
During the first day of the hearing, long-time friend of Mr and Mrs Pickering, Gemma Higson, told the inquest: "He was just a nice guy, a genuinely nice guy.
"He always wanted to be a driver, he thought it was good money. He was absolutely made up when he got the job.
"He wanted to work for TJ Morris, it was a good company, a step up the ladder. He thought he would have a future there."
The inquest continues.
