Inquest hears of welder’s death at Leeds recycling plant

An inquest has heard how a man was crushed to death by the jaws of a mechanical grabber.

Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard how Richard Zajdler died while he was repairing the grabber at LSS Waste Management recycling and skip hire in Leeds. The machine’s operator, Kirk Dakin, had noticed cracks in the machine and arranged for Mr Zajdler to come and repair it by welding metal plates onto the cracks.

Giving evidence, Mr Dakin said that he started the machine’s engine to move it to a different position in order to make it easier for Mr Zajdler to work on it and he moved a handle to isolate the controls which move the grabber. He said that he only knew that something was wrong when the company’s general manager shouted at him to “open the grabber”.

He did but it was too late to save the Mr Zajdler. One of the main arteries to his heart had been severed while he also suffered lacerations to his lung, three broken ribs and heavy bleeding. He was rushed to hospital but died later that day.

The court heard that the grabber had been tested after the accident and it gradually closed in a creeping motion after 10 to 15 minutes. The case is proceeding.