Safety expert died in gravy machine fall at Oxo plant

AN ENGINEER checking smoke detectors fell to his death after walking through a door that had not been opened for a decade, an inquest heard.

Nigel Chester suffered serious head injuries when he fell 13ft to the floor of a food factory and hit a large machine that makes gravy granules and Oxo cubes.

The inquest in Nottingham heard that Mr Chester, 46, who worked for ADT Fire and Security, was checking smoke detectors at Premier Foods in Worksop last year when the tragedy happened.

The door was locked and a sign warned of the danger, but Mr Chester, from Arnold, Nottinghamshire, had a master key.

Assistant coroner Andrew McNamara said: ‘A large piece of equipment required a gantry to be in position above the machinery. A door was installed for access from the first floor but it was then decided the gantry wasn’t necessary.

‘Shortly before the incident, Mr Chester checked a sensor on the first floor. He then unlocked the door and stepped into the void.’

Factory technician Melvin Lacey said the door had been there for ten years but had never been opened. He added: ‘About a month before, we had new printing equipment, so I printed out a bigger version of the sign that was on the door. It said: “Danger. Keep this door locked. Four-metre fall to the floor if opened”.’

A jury returned a verdict of accidental death.