‘Lorry driver killed by handbrake error' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

‘Lorry driver killed by handbrake error'

4:14am Wednesday 27th February 2008 in Search By Ben Barnett

A lorry driver was crushed to death because he did not apply the handbrake while he walked around the vehicle to carry out a check, an inquest heard.

Martin Hepple, 45, was making his way to the cab when the wagon rolled forward, trapping him against another truck.

The inquest in Bradford heard yesterday that Mr Hepple, a heavy goods vehicle driver, was preparing for work early one morning in December, 2006, at Vernon Land Transport on Tong Park Industrial Estate, off Otley Road, Baildon.

He was outside the vehicle checking it was safe to drive but he tried to return to the cabin when the emergency brake system shutdown, which it is designed to do when air pressure is restored to the trailer, and the vehicle moved forward.

A colleague, Kevin Page, discovered him trapped between two trucks. Mr Page said: "I heard a sudden change in the engine and it was slowly moving forward and I thought it's going to hit my wagon'. It went straight into it."

Paramedics were called but Mr Hepple, of Ashfield Road, Thackley, Bradford, was pronounced dead at the scene.

PC Phil Jackson, who investigated the incident, said: "In the cab was an automatic warning bleeper which was sounding - a safety device that sounds if the driver opens a door, with the engine running and the handbrake off.

"It is not a safe situation to have a vehicle in.

"What appears to have happened is that precautions have not been followed, he has found himself outside of his vehicle and there is nothing holding the vehicle in place."

He said the vehicle, which was new and in full working order, was parked on a slight incline, enough for it to roll.

Julian Franklin, an inspector with the Health and Safety Executive, said: "All we know is that the handbrake was off, the trailer brake was off, the airlines were connected and the engine was running. The exact chain of events that then happened, we don't know.

"HGV drivers should engage the parking brake, but my experience is that very few drivers actually do."

Mr Franklin praised the haulage firm, whose director, Vernon Land, appeared visibly distressed at the inquest.

He said: "Vehicles were maintained to a high standard.

"I would have no concerns about the management of the company."

Mr Land said Mr Hepple was also a friend, he said: "It is a small business and we are all quite close.

"Since Martin's death we have been very conscious that the brakes are on. I'm just sorry it happened."

The jury of seven women and four men returned a verdict of misadventure.