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George Falder inquest: Pirelli oven death 'accidental' | George Falder inquest: Pirelli oven death 'accidental' |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A man whose body was discovered inside an industrial oven at a tyre factory in Cumbria died accidentally, an inquest jury has found. | A man whose body was discovered inside an industrial oven at a tyre factory in Cumbria died accidentally, an inquest jury has found. |
George Falder, 48, died in September 2012 at the Pirelli site in Carlisle. He was found in a machine where temperatures could reach 145C (293F). | |
Mr Falder's family said shining a torch into the oven could have prevented the door being closed on him. | |
Pirelli has now changed the rules on how the autoclave is operated. | |
The inquest in Carlisle was told Mr Falder had battled depression. | |
But Mr Falder's wife Andrea told the hearing she did not believe he had killed himself. | |
Coroner Robert Chapman had instructed the jury to consider three possible conclusions - that Mr Falder killed himself, that he died as a result of an accident or that the circumstances of his death were unclear. | Coroner Robert Chapman had instructed the jury to consider three possible conclusions - that Mr Falder killed himself, that he died as a result of an accident or that the circumstances of his death were unclear. |
Colleagues of Mr Falder previously told the hearing that he would often go inside the autoclave to tidy up items that had fallen on the floor. | Colleagues of Mr Falder previously told the hearing that he would often go inside the autoclave to tidy up items that had fallen on the floor. |
In her evidence, the detective who led the investigation into the death, Det Insp Furzana Nazir, said photographs showed the oven did not need cleaning at the time. | In her evidence, the detective who led the investigation into the death, Det Insp Furzana Nazir, said photographs showed the oven did not need cleaning at the time. |
The autoclave hardens rubber-coated rings used to strengthen tyres. | |
'Human life' | |
In a statement solicitor Andrew Kirkpatrick said: "The family would earnestly hope that lessons can be learned from this tragedy and that it will act as a wake-up call for all employers and all involved in health and safety. | |
"In this case the current simple procedure of shining a torch and putting a tick on a check list would have prevented the door being closed on a human life." | |
After the inquest, Pirelli offered its condolences to the family. | |
In a statement, a spokesman said the management and staff at Pirelli "are and always have been committed to ensuring high levels of health and safety for all those working at the company". |