A welder who died after being crushed by a three tonne cylinder when two cranes collided will leave a legacy for his co-workers.

Michael Philip Reginald Wickstead, 63, died as a result of multiple injuries following the work place accident at Refinery Supplies Ltd at Chadderton Industrial Estate in July 2011.

The company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for failing to have measures in place to prevent the cranes from colliding.

They were fined £90,000 and ordered to pay £35,000 in prosecution costs at Manchester Crown Court last month after pleading guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Now an inquest at Oldham Magistrates Court has heard that Mr Wickstead, from Radcliffe, had been welding a rim to a metal cylinder, which was attached by chains to an overhead crane when the incident occurred.

The three tonne cylinder was resting on supports with the chains hanging slack, when a co-worker inadvertently moved the crane that he working on in the wrong direction causing the two cranes to collide.

Coroner Simon Nelson said: “He inadvertently pressed the wrong button.

“He moved the crane in the opposite direction, which collided with Mr Wickstead’s crane and pulled the shell off its support stands and allowed it to pendulum colliding with Mr Wickstead.”

The co-worker had been at the company for just six weeks and hadn’t been given any formal training in operating the cranes.

A jury gave a verdict of accidental death, ruling that Mr Wickstead died of multiple injuries at his place of work as a consequence of an unintended act or admission.

Since the tragic death, the company has put safety measures in place ‘beyond what was required’. They have installed anti-collision lasers and physical barriers, with ongoing health and training for staff includPIing managers.

Coroner Simon Nelson said: “I should echo the comments made by the learned judge - she made reference that his many friends, those who were his fellow employees who will remember him with respect and great fondness by a legacy he leaves for them by means of the tragedy of his death.

“Life at the factory will be very much safer following the changes that have been put in place following his untimely death.”