Ramp accident man hoping for return to work

Dave Jones, 60, suffered severe spinal injuries and loss of feeling in his legs when a ramp supporting the forklift truck he was driving collapsed and fell six feet to the floor.

Mr Jones, who was loading a container at Selvic Shipping in Stallingborough when the accident happened on February 3, was airlifted to hospital. After an operation and months of treatment now uses a wheelchair, although doctors said his condition should improve.

He said: “I’m still in a wheelchair and I have a walking frame to get around the house, but hopefully in two years they said I will have 90 per cent mobility. I doubt I’ll walk unaided but I would like to get back to work.”

The father of three said he was happy with the results of a council investigation into the accident, which found no action should be taken against the company.

North East Lincolnshire Council said: “The investigation revealed that the mobile ramp had separated from the container while being used, causing the movement which injured the driver. The specific reason for the separation could not be identified, although it seems most likely that creepage occurred in the course of the loading work. The safety measures in place met recognised standards for this type of activity and no offence was identified.

“Nevertheless, a possible improvement and other measures were identified by the investigation and Selvic Shipping has now put additional safeguards in place to reduce the risk of a similar accident occurring in the future. Under these circumstances, no further action is to be taken.”

Principal environmental health officer Ian Clarke, who investigated the incident, added: “While not a response to this incident, the safety team will be carrying out a previously planned survey of selected premises later this year.”

Selvic Shipping declined to comment.