Teenage apprentice inquest: Accidental death verdict

The family of Jason Burden, a teenage apprentice crushed to death by machinery weighing almost a tonne, have said they accept a jury’s ruling of accidental death but hope that lessons have been learned.

Jason died when a 970kg (152 stone) tunnel thruster fell from a bench, at South Dock in Sunderland where he was working as an apprentice for Tyne Slipway and Engineering Co Ltd.

In January, the firm was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay almost £48,000 in costs for health and safety failings after the HSE concluded that the company failed to take sufficient steps to ensure the machinery in question was safe to work on or near.

A jury at the inquest held at Sunderland Coroner’s Court was instructed to return the verdict of accidental death.

Mr Burden’s father, Trevor, said: “We are heartbroken that we have lost our beautiful son in an accident that could and should have been prevented.

“We acknowledge and accept the conclusion of accidental death, but hopefully lessons have been learned and no family has to suffer the unbearable pain we feel.”

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.

Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.

Listen now!