The Health and Safety Executive has confirmed it is to investigate safety procedures at a local building firm following the death of one of its employees in 2007.

Steven Allen, 23, died on March 9, 2007, while working on a Manningham building site for Skipton-based firm JN Bentley.

Mr Allen died after a scissor-grab piece of machinery closed on his head at the Midland Road site. He was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary with severe head injuries but did not recover.

An inquest last week heard that a safety chain on the machine was broken, which would have restricted how far the jaws would close.

The hearing was told that none of JN Bentley’s employees had read a manual describing how to safely operate the machine that killed Mr Allen.

Assistant deputy coroner Paul Marks had originally given the jury an option of returning an open verdict, accidental death or accidental death aggravated by neglect but later withdrew the latter option after some legal debate.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Allen’s mother Judith Allen said: “Accidental death does not cover what happened to Steven. I am glad we were able to ask the questions we wanted to and the serious failings in the system have been shown.

“Steven loved working for JN Bentley and would have done anything for them.”

Mrs Allen and other campaigners from the group Families Against Corporate Killings held a vigil out outside the courthouse on the first day of the inquest.

A spokesman for the HSE said: “Following the conclusion of the inquest, the HSE is now examining safety protocols set in place by the firm to establish whether there are grounds for prosecution. It is standard procedure for us to wait until the coroner has made his findings.”

e-mail: paddy.mcguffin@telegraphandargus.co.uk