Mr Benjamin Hugh Wylie · Prevention of Future Deaths report

I conducted an Inquest into the death of Mr Benjamin Hugh Wylie that was heard at Reading Town Hall between the 24th October and 2nd November 2016 before a Jury. The conclusion returned by the Jury was Misadventure.

Mr Wylie was a 24 year old man who was working on a building site in Maidenhead, Berkshire on 13th May 2014. In the course of pumping grease in order to tension the tracks on a Soilmec RS70 piling rig machine, the grease nipple became detached and streams of grease under high pressure were expelled, striking Mr Wylie and causing fatal injuries.

Expulsion of the grease nipple had occurred the previous day and had been repaired by an external fitter.

(1) In the course of the evidence at the Inquest it was acknowledged that the risk of grease being expelled from the grease nipple at high pressure was recognised. No permanent warning plate or sign was attached to the machine beside the grease nipple.

(2) The grease nipple(s) of which there is one on each side of the machine was orientated on the SR70 machine so that it was perpendicular to, rather than parallel to, the tracks. This meant that the nipple faced out towards the greasing operator. Evidence suggested that other manufacturers have the grease nipple orientated parallel to the tracks.

(3) The evidence also given was that other piling rig manufacturers install pressure release values within the grease nipple unit that prevents pressure building up to the force that struck Ben Wylie.

(4) The Jury heard that, in the ordinary course of use of the machine, were covered by a metal plate. However, this had to be removed in order to carry out the greasing of the tracks. Evidence was given that new machines allow greasing of the tracks with the plate in place but there are a number of existing machines in use which do not have that adaptation.

(5) It is understood that no warning bulletin has been issued to existing users of the relevant piling rig machines warning of the risk of the grease nipple failure and potential consequences.

(6) It was heard that the manual for the SR70 piling rig machine is always kept in the cab of the machine for use by the operator. This was described as a 350 page manual. No quick reference condensed version of key matters is available.

(7) The manual does not contain a warning to always replace failed parts on piling rigs with new units. There is no statement that repairs or modifications to failed parts should not be carried out.

(8) The evidence suggested that certain piling rig workers were not following the correct procedures for greasing the tracks suggesting that there was a training issue that needed to be addressed and possibly incorporated into the manual.