Vibrations clue to pipe-crush tragedy

CRUSHED to death . . . Frank Dunne was killed while working at R Tindall Fabricators on Hargreaves Street

VIBRATIONS from a forklift truck could have caused metal pipes to shake loose and crush a worker to death, an inquest heard.

Father-of-two Frank Dunne (52), of Alveston Avenue, Shaw, was found dead under a dozen 20ft-long steel pipes at R Tindall Fabricators on Hargreaves Street, Oldham, where he was a yardman.

The court heard CCTV footage showed Mr Dunne loading bundles of pipes using a forklift on the morning of April 17 last year. Having put a heavier bundle in place, Mr Dunne began to load the second bundle before leaving the forklift and walking round it to where, it is assumed, he was placing wooden bearers on the first bundle to make loading the second more secure.

The CCTV footage didn’t show the tragedy, but it is believed vibrations from the forklift truck’s engine could have caused the bundle to fall.

Robert Marr of the Health and Safety Executive said: “The load being partially supported could have been vibrated off. The top bundle fell, fatally crushing him.”

Mr Marr said there was no evidence to suggest the two bundles were loose before the incident occurred.

The inquest, at Oldham County Court, has been adjourned until Friday.