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Worker tells of Blackpool scaffold horror
THE widow of a Blackpool joiner who died after falling 20 feet from scaffolding broke down in tears as the moments leading up to the fatal accident were played out at an inquest.
Kieron Baines,director of New Look Construction, told a jury how he saw Peter Walton "disappeared" through scaffolding with no warning.
The two men were working on the third level of some scaffolding on a building site in Altham, Accrington, in May 2006 when the incident happened.
Mr Baines, who was a close friend of Mr Walton, said: "I saw him walk across carrying a piece of wall plate. He was about 14ft away. Peter walked across and disappeared through the scaffolding."
As the evidence was being told, Mr Walton's widow, Christine, broke down and had to leave the court in Lancaster to gather her thoughts before the inquest continued.
Mr Walton, who was employed by New Look Construction, fell from the scaffolding on May 10, 2006.
The 55-year-old from Anchorsholme suffered severe head injuries and died in hospital more than five weeks later on June 16.
The jury had previously heard trainee scaffolder Nathan Briggs had been sent by his employer, Howarth Scaffolding, to erect hop-up boards – work platforms on the scaffolding – even though he was unqualified to do so.
Yesterday, the jury heard evidence from Trevor Shearon, the site agent who was employed by Glenn Mill Developments to oversee the day to day running of the works.
Mr Shearon said he spoke to the advanced scaffolder, Dave Shaw, to ask if the scaffolding could be used on Tuesday May 9 – the day before the accident.
He said: "I asked the scaffolder can we use the scaffolding.
"He said you can use the top lift but you mustn't use the lower lifts.
"I then informed New Look Construction that they could use the scaffolding.
"Later that afternoon they put some timber up and then the next day they started putting some wall plates up and that's the day of the accident.
"If they (the scaffolders) had said it was unsafe, I would have said you can't go on."
Mr Baines confirmed seeing Mr Shearon walking over to the scaffolders but Dave Shaw denied having such a conversation.
Mr Baines added: "Me and Peter saw him (Trevor Shearon) walk over to the scaffolders. I didn't hear the conversation."
The inquest was expected to finish today.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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