Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Paul Whitehead

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, written 14 Dec 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report14 Dec 2015
DeceasedPaul Whitehead
CoronerKevin Mcloughlin
Coroner areaWest Yorkshire (East)
CategoryAccident at Work and Health and Safety related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

ANNEX A

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

rw E Rawson Ltd, Castle Bank Mills, Portobello Road, Wakefield. FAO The
Managing Director

1 | CORONER

tam Kevin McLoughlin, assistant coroner, for the coroner area of West Yorkshire
(Eastern)

2 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 3 April 2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of Paul David Whitehead,
Age 49. The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on 11 December 2015.
The conclusion of the inquest was a Narrative Conclusion that Paul David Whitehead
sustained serious injuries on Friday 28 February 2014 when working on a Desco
packing machine in the course of his employment at W E Rawson Ltd, Castle Bank
Mills, Portobello Road, Wakefield and subsequently died on Sunday 2 March 2014 at
Leeds General Infirmary as a result of the multiple injuries sustained.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Paul David Whitehead was a Charge Hand operating a Desco packing machine in the
Bottom Mill in the course of his employment with W E Rawson Ltd on a night shift
commencing around 6pm on Friday 28 February 2014. He was discovered trapped
between the lower and upper moving conveyors of the machine having sustained severe
crush injuries, from which he subsequently died.

5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. -

(1) When Mr Whitehead was released from the machine and fell on to the floor, a
witness said that there was no one in the vicinity able to give First Aid to the casualty.
(2) The designated First Aider from the Security Office, when informed of the incident
rang the Health and Safety Manager before calling for an Ambulance. The statement
giving this evidence was challenged, however, by the evidence taken at the Inquest from
the Health and Safety Manager.

(3) The First Aider who attended the casualty was herself in shock and unable to carry
out mouth to mouth resuscitation.

(4) The Paramedic who initially attended in response to the 999 call said in a statement
that on arriving at the large site of W E Rawson Ltd the Ambulance stopped in a small
car park but could not see anyone around and had to drive back on to the main road
before eventually finding someone stood by a fire exit door. The Paramedic’s statement
said that from arriving at the site to arriving with the patient took approximately five
minutes.

These factors in combination suggest that the emergency response procedures at WE
Rawson Ltd were not sufficiently efficient or effective. Whilst it is unlikely that these
factors contributed to Mr Whitehead’s eventual death, they do give rise to the concern
that if another emergency were to arise involving a time critical situation, an avoidable
death might occur.

Evidence was taken at the Inquest to the effect that the Disaster Recovery Plan at WE
Rawson Ltd was reviewed after Mr Whitehead’s death but the conclusion reached that
no significant changes were required. | consider that a further review of the standard of
First Aid provision is merited along with the actions to be taken in the immediate
aftermath of an unexpected occurrence to ensure that the Emergency Services are
contacted immediately and steps taken to expedite their arrival with any casualty.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe W E Rawson
Ltd have the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by Monday 8 February. I, the coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following interested
Person: the family of Paul David Whitehead,

| am also under a duty to send the a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful
or of interest. You may make representations to me, the assistant coroner, at the time of
your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief
Coroner.

14 December 2015 Kevin McLoughlin, Assistant Coroner

Kevin RAdorpbin

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