Details of Work-Related Deaths in the County of Kent in 2002


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last updated 6 May 2009


Deaths in 2002

Click on the names below for further case details

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate
Employer

ALLEN Michael 41 9 January Worker Mereworth Agriculture Not available
SWAIN Joanne 29 18 January Member of public Kent Finance ABN Amro Bank
MORTLOCK David 55 21 February Co-Owner Sevenoaks Construction Chaucer Contracting Ltd.
ORPIN Robert 65 12 March Worker Ashford Agriculture Self employed
KING Richard 21 14 March Worker Sevenoaks Service MTS Cleansing Service
ASHBY David 77 26 March Member of public Tunbridge Wells Service Retired
PIKE David 61 7 August Co-Owner Otford Service Self employed
JOYCE Richard 21 25 October Worker Sevenoaks Construction R Durtnell and Sons


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FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS

Michael Allen

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate Employer

Michael Allen 41 9 January 2002 Worker   Agriculture  

Michael, an agriculture worker, fell while working on a tractor at Mereworth.

The inquest was held at Mid Kent and Midway Coroner’s Court on 2 October 2002. An verdict of 'Death by Misadventure' was recorded.


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Joanne Swain

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate Employer

Joanne Swain 29 18 January 2002 Member of public Kent Transport  

Joanne, a commuter on the late night Connex service from London to Canterbury West, fell from the train near Paddock Wood station. Her body was discovered next to the tracks two stations from her destination. The accident is attributed to the fact that the train had slam doors which could be opened by passengers on a moving train.

A police investigation into Joanne's death concluded that she may have opened the train door thinking she had arrived at her station

The inquest was held at North Wet Kent Coroner’s Court on 8 October 2002. An 'Open' verdict was recorded.

Government guidelines demanded the replacement of all slam door trains by 2004. Mr Swain, Joanne's father, said, 'The fact is my daughter would not have died if she had been travelling on a sliding door train because she wouldn't have been able to open the door. It's incredible that Connex has slide door trains sitting at Ashford but no one has the technology to get them moving. Given the record of accidents involving slam door trains, getting rid of them should be a priority. The rail industry needs to get its finger out.'


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David Mortlock

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate Employer

David Mortlock 55 21 February 2002 Co-Owner Sevenoaks Construction Chaucer Contracting Ltd.

David, the co-owner of Chaucer Contracting a property developer firm building a series of houses for Antler Homes Ltd, was killed when struck by the bucket of a swinging crane. West Kent Police were called to the scene and immediately opened their own enquiries in conjunction with the HSE.

The inquest was held at North West Kent Coroner’s Court on 26 March 2002. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was recorded.


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Robert Orpin

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate Employer

Robert Orpin 65 12 March 2002 Worker Ashford Agriculture Self-employed

Robert, a self-employed farmer, was holding open the doors of a barn when the wind caught them and blew them onto his head killing him.

The inquest was held at Ashford and Shepway Coroner’s Court on 17 September 2002. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.


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Richard King

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate Employer

Richard King 21 14 March 2002 Worker Sevenoaks Service MTS Cleansing Service

Richard, a driver's mate in a refuse collecting truck, was killed when a tree crashed onto the truck as it was parked in a lay-by. He and his colleague were taking a break after working overnight. It is not clear what caused the tree to fall but emergency services were called to the vicinity of the incident during strong winds.

Leading firefighter Gavin Millen said, 'We think the dead man was asleep inside the cab. Unfortunately the lorry was parked right in line with where the tree fell.'

The inquest was held at North West Kent Coroner’s Court on 11 September 2003 when an 'Accidental Death' verdict was returned.

In June 2005 a judge ruled that Sevenoaks District and Kent County Councils could not be held criminally liable for Richard's manslaughter.

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David Ashby

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate Employer

David Ashby 77 26 March 2002 Member of public Tunbridge Wells Service  

David, a pensioner, was killed when a refuse cart reversed into him.

The inquest was held at North West Kent Coroner’s Court on 22 November 2002. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was recorded.


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David Pike

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate Employer

David Pike 61 7 August 2002 Co-owner Otford Service Self-employed

David, a partner in a crane-hire company, was killed while moving a 9.5 ton boat which fell on him.

The inquest was held at North West Kent Coroner’s Court on 26 March 2003. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.


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Richard Joyce

Name Age Date of death Status Local Authority Industry

Immediate Employer

Richard Joyce 21 25 October 2002 Worker Sevenoaks Construction R Durtnell and Sons

Richard, a plant mechanic working for a construction firm, was fatally injured having got his head wedged while carrying out maintenance on a forklift truck. He became trapped between the mast and roll-over protection structure of a Hyster fork lift truck. He was freed and revived by paramedics but died later in hospital. A post-mortem on the deceased found the case of death to be cerebral anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the brain, as a result of the crush injury to the brain.

The inquest was held at North-West Kent Coroner’s Court in October 2003 when an 'Accidental Death' verdict was returned.

In January 2004Richard's employers the Westerham based construction company R Durtnell & Sons Ltd was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,600 costs at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court for breaching health and safety legislation.

Principal HM Inspector, Heather Bryant commented, 'This prosecution highlights the need for companies to ensure that employees fellow safe systems of work including isolating machinery before carrying out repairs. Failure to do so often results in tragic accidents such as this one. Companies must carry out suitable risk assessments and inform, instruct and monitor employees to ensure that they are working safely.'

Media Coverage
Title Source Date of Article
KENT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FINED £18,000 FOLLOWING FATAL INCIDENT HSE 20 January 2004


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