Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Jose Orlando

Ref: 2020-0063 Date: 4 Mar 2020 Coroner: Nadia Persaud Area: East London Responses identified: 0 / 1 View PDF

Lorries lacked essential safety features like hand holds for driver access and necessary equipment (CO2 detectors, telescopic mirrors) for Border Force checks, tempting drivers to use unsuitable alternatives.

Date 4 Mar 2020
56-day deadline 15 May 2020 est.
Responses identified 0 of 1
Accident at Work and Health and Safety related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary
Lorries lacked essential safety features like hand holds for driver access and necessary equipment (CO2 detectors, telescopic mirrors) for Border Force checks, tempting drivers to use unsuitable alternatives.
View full coroner's concerns
The MATTERS OF CONCERN DURING THE COURSE OF THE INQUEST are as follows The likely

There appeared to be no hand hold/grab rail to assist drivers in pulling themselves up into the interior of their trailers_ The metal prop/stay is not designed to be used for this purpose: As there is nothing purpose built to assist drivers to themselves Up, it would be very tempting for drivers to use the prop/stay for this purpose: In addition, there were no items within the lorry that would have assisted Mr Sanchez-Figueroa to carry out the checks required from the Border Force Agency: Carbon-dioxide detectors or telescopic mirrors could assist drivers with these checks and none of these items were present within the vehicle.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest
Following an Inquest which was opened on the 18th January 2019 the investigation concluded on the 3rd March 2020. The conclusion of the Inquest was a narrative conclusion: Mr Sanchez-Figueroa died from a traumatic brain injury caused by a fall from the back of his lorry: absence of secure footing and leveraging contributed to the accident:
Circumstances of the death
Mr Sanchez-Figueroa worked as a long distance lorry driver. He had delivered a load of vegetables to the New Spitalfields Market in Leyton, London on the 17 December 2018. At around 20.00 hours on the 17th December 2018 he was found unconscious near to his lorry with a severe head injury: The circumstances in which he was found indicated a likely fall from the back of his trailer. A metal prop/stay that should have been secured in the back of the trailer was found on the ground with blood staining on it Investigators from the Metropolitan Police Service and the Health and Safety Executive considered that the mechanism of injury was most to have been fall from the back of the lorry in which the stay/prop was likely to have been involved: It was noted during the course of the Inquest that there was no hand hold to assist drivers to enter their trailers. It was further noted that drivers would be responsible for stowaways and may need to check the interior of their trailer. Sadly, Mr Sanchez-Figueroa died from his injury's at the Royal London Hospital on the 23rd December 2018_
Action should be taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you have the power to take such action:

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Report details

Reference
2020-0063
Date of report
4 March 2020
Coroner
Nadia Persaud
Coroner area
East London

Responses identified

Responses identified 0 of 1
1 response not yet linked

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 15 May 2020 (estimated).

Sent to

Tradomi S.L. Transporte

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