Skanska DLR death: HSE scrutinises quick hitch

A manslaughter investigation into the death of a man on a Skanska / GrantRail site last week is focusing on the excavator’s semi-automatic quick hitch.

British Transport Police said the man, named as 58-year-old Harold Sheridan, from Luton, died on 3 December when he was "crushed by machinery".

It is thought that he was hit on the head by a digger bucket.

A 60-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the incident, which happened at around 8.25am. He was bailed until mid-January.

CJ understands that the hitch’s safety pin was in place when the HSE inspectors arrived, but it is unclear at what point it was inserted. The device will undergo further testing.

However, the police declined to comment on this, and would not say if their investigations related to the quick hitch.

The Skanska / GrantRail joint venture is working on the first phase of the £211m Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension at the site, which is part of the Stratford International Station Extension in time for the London 2012 Games.

In a statement, the joint venture partners said: "Skanska/GrantRail extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the individual.

"The matter is under investigation and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time."

A Transport for London statement said: "We understand a construction worker on a worksite managed by Skanska GrantRail was tragically killed this morning.

"The site where the incident occurred is on a former surface railway route between Canning Town station and Stratford International, which is being converted to DLR use."