A JURY has called for a review of staff training procedures on the docking and maintenance of aircraft following the death of a man who was crushed between two hangar doors during the course of his work at Dublin airport.
Patrick Harris (25), Portmarnock, Co Dublin, was part of a team bringing an Airbus 321 into a hangar on February 21st, 2006, when he was caught between two of its doors, an inquest at Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.
The employee with SR Technics aircraft maintenance was found in a crouched position in the frame of one of the doors and was rushed to Beaumont Hospital where he died more than two hours later.
A postmortem revealed he had severe crush injuries to his chest and abdomen with multiple bruises, contusions and lacerations.
Under the direction of coroner Dr Brian Farrell, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. It made recommendations including a review of staff training (both operational and safety) governing the docking and maintenance of aircraft and the introduction of a time delay between the activation of sirens and warning lights and the movement of hangar doors.
The jury also called for no access though wicket doors while any doors were moving.
The coroner is to write to the company and inform it of the recommendations.
There was no third-party involvement in Mr Harris’s death, Sgt Michael Higgins of Dublin airport said. The Health and Safety Authority conducted an investigation and made general recommendations which were carried out.
The former monthly inspection of the hangar is now conducted weekly.