Lack of training 'likely' to have led to death of Lowestoft father

Nathan Hook suffered a severe head injury in an industrial incident at Berry M&H Plastics in Beccles on October 7, 2021.

The 34-year-old, from Lowestoft, had been using a Colchester Mastiff 1400 Lathe when his clothing became caught in the machine.

Nathan Hook (Image: Courtesy of Nathan Hook's family)

A jury hearing an inquest into Mr Hook's death this week concluded, stating: "While using emery cloth by hand he became entangled, leading to his death.

"A lack of formal or informal training, or communication of risk assessment is likely to have contributed to his death."

A postmortem concluded Mr Hook suffered a severe head injury, adding there was no evidence of a medical disease which may have led to his death.

Earlier in the week, a report by Michael Clarke, specialist investigator with the Health and Safety Executive, was read to the inquest.

It stated the company's guidance included a policy not to, "under any circumstances" hand polish a workpiece with an emery cloth on a lathe, as Mr Hook was doing.

Eight members of staff were unaware of the work instruction prohibiting this, however.

On Tuesday, his supervisor, engineering team leader James Fisher, told jurors he saw "no reason" why Mr Hook would use emery cloth for the job he was doing at the time of his death.

Tooling engineer Anthony White, however, claimed the method was "common practice".

Stephen Niblett, health and safety professional at the Ellough site, told the inquest there was "no requirement" for staff to undergo refresher training to use a lathe once they were qualified.

On Wednesday, jurors heard from Health and Safety Executive inspector Natalie Prince, who said the company's lack of training or refresher offered, and a failure to communicate work instructions and risk assessments, "fell far below what we would expect for a company of this size."