A DELIVERY driver who was crushed between the back of his lorry and its tail lift in Dudley had "insufficient" training and was working in poorly lit conditions when he died according to a jury.

Gary Leslie Pickering, aged 34 of Chepstow Road, Swinton, was making a delivery to the Churchill precinct for Home Bargains when the fatal accident occurred on Tuesday September 10, 2013.

The father-of-one was attempting to get the tail lift into the correct position at the loading bay when it snapped back and trapped his head at around 2am.

He was found two hours later by a security guard.

Health and Safety Executive investigator Dr Dominic Swan told the inquest at Smethwick Council House that he thought the vehicle was in a poor state of repair and after examining the tail lift, found an anti-lock bolt was missing.

The inquest heard that the night before, fellow TJ Morris driver Paul Finch had used the same trailer when he made a delivery to the Dudley store.

Members of the jury were shown CCTV footage of Mr Finch's delivery, which showed him using both hands to pull out the tail lift.

The footage then showed him quickly moving his hands out of the way as it suddenly sprung back.

In a written statement read out during the hearing, Mr Finch, who has worked for the company for six years, said: "It nearly took my hands off" and he "hadn't been told" that could happen.

Mr Finch said before he embarked on the delivery, he had checked the machinery was working and "didn't notice" anything wrong with it.

He said he was aware of the company's procedure for reporting faults.

Alan Beech, the company's transport manager said he was unaware that particular make of tail lift, which had recently been introduced to the company, had a tendency to suddenly snap back.

The inquest was told that the new tail lifts were not inspected by the health and safety manager before use as they “mirrored lifts already used" but all employees received training on tail lift operation when they joined the firm.

Another driver, Steve Owen told the inquest that although Dudley wasn't regarded as "the worst delivery point", he had found the lighting "a bit hit and miss", adding: "There have been occasions where it was pitch dark."

Driver Mark Smaje said he had raised the lighting issue with management and was aware an email had been sent but did not know the outcome.

After hearing all the evidence, which was spread over four days, the jury retired for around four hours before returning a narrative verdict.

They noted that there was "inadequate lighting in the loading bay and basement area" and believed training given to Mr Pickering in relation to operating the tail lift was "insufficient".

Members of the jury also said they believed the tail lift was defective and a risk assessments sheet handed to Mr Pickering before the delivery was "inadequate", particularly when highlighting risks relating to night time deliveries and the Dudley store.

The medical cause of death was recorded as asphyxia caused by neck compression due to a vehicle accident.

Following the result, Vicky Whitney, the solicitor representing Mr Pickering's wife, said: "Sharon and her family have been left devastated by Gary’s death, but Sharon says she is grateful that the coroner has thoroughly investigated the incident.

"She sincerely hopes that lessons have been learned and that steps can be taken to ensure that a similar accident is never able to happen again.”