Jury hear more about forklift truck which killed Bulwell worker

Anthony Watson died at work

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A jury has been shown photos of a forklift truck after it was driven by a worker who was killed when the machine landed on top of him. More colour images showed the direction of travel to a loading bay, the impact point on a low roof beam and the Reach truck on the floor.

One photo captured the truck after it fell over. Grandad and dad Anthony Watson, also known as Tony, died on July 11, 2022, from a severe head injury after the tragedy at flooring distributors Cheshires of Nottingham, located at Unit 1 Concord House, in Bulwell. He had worked there for more than 30 years.

Mr Watson, of Bulwell, had been on shift in the warehouse operating a Reach forklift. He was hours into his shift, placing a row of flooring on a shelf, requiring the mast of the forklift to be extended, when something caused him to topple, the Nottingham inquest heard.

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As the forklift toppled, Mr Watson fell or jumped from the vehicle which landed on top of him. This afternoon (Wednesday, August 2), the jury heard from Craig Logan, HSE mechanical engineering specialist instructor, who talked them through images of the forklift, measurements taken, and the top mast part of a new Reach truck of the same make and model.

He attempted to use sketches from what he understood had happened, explaining that all objects have a centre of gravity, and the truck was approaching the loading bay and made contact with a beam and was still stable.

The mast was extended to slightly higher than the lowest point of the beam and, at that speed, would tend to rock back initially. He said it was like "bending a ruler back" and "the mast has been released, that sprung has thrown forward and caused it to topple".

Assistant coroner for Nottinghamshire, Michael Wall, asked Mr Logan about the risks associated with travelling with a raised mast, and Mr Logan said the most effective way to prevent a truck toppling was by ensuring the truck travelled with the load and or the mast lowered to just below the mast level when travelling along the ground.

The inquest continues.