A saleswoman was crushed to death by a forklift truck while she was demonstrating how a pair of ear protectors cut out noise of its engine, an inquest heard yesterday.
Paula Eldred, 37 had revved the engine by pushing her hands on the accelerator when the truck shot back and ran her over. Several employees and ex-employees of Tony Cook Ltd plant hire and garden centre, in Bruswick, east Yorks, told a jury in Hull that the truck’s hand-brake had never worked. A police vehicle examiner’s report said the brake cable was disconnected.
East Riding council’s health and safety inspectors have sent a file to the authority’s legal services team, which could lead to action against the firm.
A verdict of accidental death was returned by the jury.
