The family of a worker crushed to death at a Bradford timber yard are considering legal action against his employer after an open verdict was returned by an inquest jury.

John Crossley, 52, died on February 15 last year when a bar on the stacking machine he was operating at Ramsey Timber fell on him, killing him instantly.

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Crossley, of Parsonage Road, Laisterdyke, died of asphyxia when his lungs were starved of oxygen.

Speaking after the jury's verdict yesterday, Mr Crossley's sister-in-law Pat Crossley said: "It's very upsetting that we've come this far and still don't feel like we have any answers about the circumstances surrounding John's death.

"We are now considering a civil claim and will be discussing this further with our solicitor."

During the two-day hearing in Bradford, the jury heard from colleagues of Mr Crossley, who had worked for the company for seven years, that the machine he was operating had malfunctioned before.

It also heard that Kevin Pheasby, a new employee who was operating the machine with Mr Crossley on the day he died, had only undergone basic training.

An investigation into the accident was carried out by the Health and Safety Executive but found no fault on the company's part. HSE investigator Julian Franklin said: "I am satisfied that this was a safe operation."

Since Mr Crossley's death the company has made a number of modifications to the stacking machine. "The modifications have made it even better," said Mr Franklin.

An expert called in to exam the machinery after the accident said that no faults were found. Dr Anthony Wray said: "When I examined the machine there was nothing wrong with it and it is unlikely that there was a defect on it that caused the problem."

Mr Wray said that it was more likely that the fault had been caused by a human error. "It is more likely that either Mr Crossley or a third person re-set the machine," he said.

In June this year the Telegraph & Argus reported that the Health and Safety Executive has investigated 17 accidents at the company based in Wellington Street, Laisterdyke, Bradford, in the last ten years.

Glenn Brannon lost all his fingers and his thumb on his right hand while working at the timber yard on a wood cutting machine.

The family-run company has also been served with five improvement notices by the HSE since 1996 as a result of the completed investigations.

Claire Newstead, of Leeds-based Irwin Mitchell solicitors which is acting on behalf of the family, said: "Obviously the company's safety record is a cause for concern. I will be talking to the family to determine what action they want to take next."

e-mail: jennifer.sugden@bradford.newsquest.co.uk