NEGLECT contributed to the death of a laundry worker who overheated after being trapped in a giant washing machine for almost three hours, an inquest jury decided on Wednesday.

Paul Clegg, 23, collapsed after climbing into the 42ft long corkscrew shaped industrial drum at Sunlight Textile Services in Winton, Bournemouth, to untangle washing.

It was more than an hour before fire-fighters were called to cut through the stainless steel cylinder, unaware that Mr Clegg, of Swansbury Drive, Townsend, Bournemouth, was lying in a chamber beside an escape hatch.

DCI Neil Redstone told the hearing at Bournemouth Town Hall: "If the hatch had been opened the deceased was likely to have survived."

However, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute either general manager Keith Blackman or production manager Abby Simpson for manslaughter by gross negligence.

Health and Safety Inspector Jon Halewood said the access panel was in approximately the same position as where the hole had been cut. A decision on whether to prosecute the company has not yet been made.

Environmental health consultant Philip Machen recalled how he had prepared a risk assessment plan for the laundry on May 10, 2002.

But all the safety measures hadn't been implemented by December 30, 2002.

He described climbing into the washing machine as "a high risk task".

Sunlight Services Group engineering director John Brayford said Mr Clegg's death on March 21 this year was "a unique incident" and it was "common" for employees without any "formal training" to climb into tunnel washers.

"There was no ventilation and no means of establishing the internal temperature. We relied on staff to come out if it was too hot."

Mr Brayford was the only witness aware of the access panel which would have taken ten to 15 minutes to remove.

Safety guidelines state that only trained staff should enter the washing machines, machinery should be cooled first by flushing, there should be vocal contact with other employees and working time limited to 15 minutes.

Jurors recorded a verdict that Mr Clegg had died as a result of an accident with neglect a contributing cause.

Mr Clegg's parents Suzanne and David, who plan to take civil action, said: "We do not know how such an accident was allowed to happen and are appalled that not one member of the management or engineering staff knew about the escape hatch.

"Such negligence bewilders us as a lot of time could have been saved and maybe Paul's life."

FIRM WAS FINED BEFORE

In January 1997 the Winton firm was fined £3,000 for allowing a teenage employee to receive an electric shock of more than 400 volts.

The 17-year-old was injured as he tried to clear jammed clothing from an industrial cleaner.

Despite the high shock, Kieran McNally received only cuts and burns to a finger, although a Health and Safety Executive spokesman said he was lucky to be alive.