Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Allan Gunnell

Ref: 2021-0026 Date: 29 Jan 2021 Coroner: Lydia Brown Area: West London Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

The company failed to demonstrate occupational health checks or compliance with HSE guidelines for employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica, potentially increasing their risk of developing severe diseases.

Date 29 Jan 2021

56-day deadline 29 Mar 2021

Responses identified 1 of 1

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Coroner's concerns

AI summary

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Evidence was requested but not received in relation to the occupational health checks that are carried out by your company, given the hazardous substances and high risk working practises that your employees are exposed to. The Health and Safety executive have published G404 which deals with the requirements placed upon employers who work with respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and there was no evidence before the court that you are working in compliance with this document, and advising your employees of the risks and carrying out the health surveillance required. This therefore potentially puts them at greater risk of developing the disease and not receiving timely health care. I therefore require you to consider the current arrangements in place to protect your employees an whether these are sufficient and in accordance with HSE guidelines and COSHH Regulations 2002.

Responses

1 respondent

Marble Ideas Ltd Other

11 Feb 2021 PDF

Disputed

Marble Ideas Ltd disputes the coroner's report, stating they work in compliance with requirements for employers working with RCS. They highlight existing health and safety policies, external audits, and water-fed machinery used in stone processing. (AI summary)

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Dear Mrs Brown; Death of Allan David Gunnell (ref: Please find attached information that was sent through the post to you on the 7h December 2020. Due to a clerical oversight and COVID lockdowns the member of Staff in at the time did not see on your email not to send letters by post; so this We assume is you never received it: We reviewed our Company Health & Safety Policies in December 2016 using various external monitoring Companies. We implemented a higher level of Health & Safety Procedures and we have followed these upgraded procedures since: An External Yearly Audit is completed by our Safety Consultants, Direct Safety Solutions Ltd and the working practices and environment has not changed, so we are able to keep this high level of safety. We dispute the evidence in your report that states Marble Ideas Limited are nor working in Compliance with requirements placed on employers who work with RCS. We at Marble Ideas Ltd are very aware of the risk RCS and as such have rigorous policies and safety procedures in place to protect our employees, in line with the HSE guidelines and COSHH Regulations 2002. Please find attached paperwork for Allan David Gunnell and details below of what we are sending Health Surveillance Record and Health Surveillance Information:. 2 Completed Employee Health Questionnaire
3. Qualitative Face Fit Test Record. Your ideas turned to Stone (mnani Revistrution No. 27106/0 VAT Registration No. GB 579 3790 78 why

4 Copy of our COSHH Assessment Form for Respirable Silica Dust 5_ Air Monitoring Sample Analysis Report:
6. AIl stone slab cutting is carried out on a Water Fed Automatic Bridge Saw or a Waterjet Machine. All bowl cut outs are carried out on a fully automatic CNC Water Fed Machine. All hob cut outs are cut on the Waterjet Machine. Air tools with water bottle dust suppression are used for finishing polished edges. All automatic machinery is water fed and used in the stone processing operations at Marble Ideas Ltd. We attached photographs for your information. We were very sorry to hear of Allan's death but as a company we have implemented all procedures that will protect the safety of our Employees. If you require any other information, please do hesitate to contact uS_

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 1st September 2020 I commenced an investigation into the death of Allan David GUNNELL. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest . The conclusion of the inquest was that Mr Gunnell died from industrial disease as a result of exposure to silica dust in the workplace. The cause of death was 1a Progression of severe pulmonary fibrosis due to silicosis 1b 1c II Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Subsegmental pulmonary emboli; pulmonary bilateral upper zone infection

Circumstances of the death

Mr Gunnell was under the care of Interstitial Lung Diseases clinic at Hammersmith Hospital.

He had an in-life diagnosis of severe pulmonary fibrosis due to silicosis and the disease progressed to claim his life on 24th August 2020. Prior to his death he had been employed by your company and probably exposed to silica dust in the workplace.

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Report details

Reference: 2021-0026
Date of report: 29 January 2021
Coroner: Lydia Brown
Coroner area: West London

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 29 Mar 2021.

Sent to

Marble Ideas Ltd

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.