Radlett man Jason Griffin killed in recycling unit, inquest hears

A worker fatally injured by machinery blades at a recycling plant had been given a safety warning beforehand, an inquest heard.

Jason Griffin, 31, suffered "multiple traumatic injuries" in Radlett, Hertfordshire, on 14 December 2011.

The James Environmental Management worker was on his own when he was injured in the polystyrene compressor.

The inquest in Hatfield was told he should not have been inside the £30,000 machine which killed him.

Mr Griffin's colleague Michael Attwood said he had seen him inside an identical machine, which reduces polystyrene to the size of a fist, the day before he died of serious injuries to his lower legs.

He told the inquest jury he had warned Mr Griffin, of The Wades, in Hatfield, not to get in to fix a blockage.

Colin Woodham, who trained Mr Griffin, said: "If he's already been trained he should only be doing what we told them to do.

"I was shocked really, because it's just something you'd never expect anyone to do."

Although he admitted the training did not include a warning not to enter the machine, he added: "It wouldn't be something that anyone would have any cause to do."

Hertfordshire Coroner Edward Thomas said: "Everybody that was there tried to do all they could."

The hearing continues.