THE family of a man crushed to death under a vehicle lift last Christmas are appealing for Jersey companies to ensure it does not happen again.

Twenty-three-year-old Kieran Patrick Connery died on 20 December when the cross-beam of the vehicle lift he was working on, at SGB in Rue de Prés Trading Estate, collapsed.

As a result of the accident SGB were fined £50,000 by the Royal Court in October, the highest fine ever recorded for a health and safety offence under the Jersey law.

An inquest into Mr Connery’s death was led by Deputy Viscount Peter de Gruchy yesterdayfri.

It found that he died of head injuries suffered on 20 December 2004 while engaged in the movement of the vehicle lift.

During the hearing his brother, Shane Connery, asked the Island’s Health and Safety Inspectorate if there was anything they could do to make sure companies were following guidelines or policies to ensure such an accident could not be repeated.

Health and safety inspector Tammy Fage said Mr Connery’s death could have been prevented.

‘We recognise SGB as an organisation who strive for high standards of occupational health and safety, however, this accident has identified that even within such an organisation, catastrophic failings can occur which may result in the death of an employee,’ she said.

She said that a ‘safety critical’ component had been removed from the vehicle lift at some time in the past and, although this had been identified in examinations carried out on the lift, nothing had been done, and the lift remained in use.

Mr de Gruchy said the ‘completely avoidable, completely preventable,’ accident had resulted in the loss of a talented, skilled and popular young man.

‘I do hope this will help to make people more aware of their responsibility,’ he said.

‘No family should have to suffer a needless loss like this one.’