Tata Steel quad bike death: Contractor job should have been halted - inquest

Adam Llewellyn was using a quad bike to spray weed killer

A Tata Steel contractor crushed by his quad bike should not have been using the bike to spray weed killer, an inquest has heard.

Adam Llewellyn, 41 from Bridgend, died at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir, Port Talbot, on 5 September 2019.

He was working on behalf of Darlow Lloyd and Sons for Tata Steel when he was pinned down by the quad bike.

A Darlow Lloyd and Sons director told Swansea Coroner's Court the work should not have gone ahead on a quad bike.

"The job should have been stopped when Adam turned up on a quad bike and not a tractor," Rhys Lloyd told the jury.

The court heard his tractor had a puncture and this is why he was using the quad bike.

This was despite a job method statement outlining how a tractor must be used to spray weed killer around the reservoir because of the uneven ground.

"It should have been a tractor because it has a roll over protection cab which is needed when working on uneven ground," Mr Lloyd said.

Adam Llewellyn died at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir, Port Talbot

Mr Llewellyn was also a farmer and had been doing contractual work outside of the business, including hedge cutting and spraying for Darlow Lloyd and Sons.

Assistant Coroner Edward Ramsay asked Mr Lloyd if the supervisor on the day, Stewart Jones, would have made the decision to go ahead even if there was a change to the working method.

"Yes. I understand why he accepted Adam's explanation because of his expertise in using a quad bike but he shouldn't have accepted it," Mr Lloyd said,

The method statement was shown to the court which showed that the word tractor had been crossed out by Mr Jones.

It also said "a banksman should be present at all times during working activates".

But the court heard Mr Jones left Mr Llewellyn alone while he assisted in other jobs at the steelworks including laying tarmac.

The court heard Mr Llewellyn had all the correct qualifications to carry out the work and a safety passport from Tata steal.

Mr Lloyd told the court there were more robust safety procedures in place since the incident had happened.

He added the job should also have been stopped when it was discovered Mr Llewellyn was working alone.

The inquest continues.