Investigation and inquest
On 21st June 2013 I commenced an investigation into the death of Elizabeth Joy Turnbull, age 65. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 20th January 2014. The medical cause of death was 1a Hypoxic Brain Injury (clinical), 1b Cervical spine injury with tetraplegia and multiple chest fractures, 1c Mechanical crush trauma. The short form conclusion of the Jury was accidental death.
Circumstances of the death
On the 8th June 2013 Elizabeth Joy Turnbull was helping her husband repair a stock fence when the bucket attached to the end of a telehandler being used to drive the fence posts in dislodged from the clevices and fell onto Mrs Turnbull. She died on the 15th June 2013 due to injuries sustained as a result of crush trauma.
Coroner’s concerns
(1) The layout of the thumbwheel controls namely one immediately above the other, the first controlling release of locking pins which secure buckets and attachments, and the second thumbwheel used to move the telescopic arm backwards and forwards.
(2) The absence of any dual controls which would both have to be activated before the pins could be released.
(3) Due to 1 and 2 above the ease at which the user could inadvertently release locking pins rather than moving the telescopic arm