Engineer killed by flying metal while working in Stratford, inquest hears - The Stratford Observer

Engineer killed by flying metal while working in Stratford, inquest hears

Stratford Editorial 12th May, 2016 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

AN ENGINEER working in Stratford was killed after being hit by exploding metal, an inquest has heard.

Mark Seward, from Bedfordshire, was testing machinery at AGD Equipment on Masons Road on the morning of May 27 when a cylinder exploded and caused him to suffer serious head injuries.

Ambulance crews and police were called to the scene and Mr Seward was airlifted to University Hospital in Coventry where he died shortly afterwards.

An inquest into the 49-year-old’s death held at Leamington Justice Centre heard how the father-of-two had been using a portable pump to test a cylinder for an oil leak.




But as he crouched down close to the cylinder, a valve block fractured due to excessive pressure.

The resulting explosion sent metal and debris flying towards Mr Seward, who was not wearing protective headwear.


A post mortem confirmed Mr Seward had died as a result of a head injury.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, the jury pointed out a number of health and safety failings, which they said had contributed to Mr Seward’s death.

They highlighted a lack of risk assessment for the task being completed and said there had been no instruction manual for the pump.

The jury also confirmed there were no clear labels on the controls of the pump being used by Mr Seward.

And they said there was evidence to suggest the pump in question was capable of delivering pressures more than three times greater than normal.

It is understood Mr Seward was undergoing a trial period at the company with a view to securing a permanent position and had been working there for a matter of weeks before the fatal accident.

Mr Seward is survived by a wife, two children, his parents and a brother.

Paying tribute, his wife Tracey said: “Mark was a very hard working man who just wanted us to have the best life possible.

“He was one of hundreds of people killed at work every year and our perfect little family life is ruined now.”

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