A FATHER was quizzed at an inquest over his managerial role on the day his son died at work.

Thomas Elmer, 27, and James Bibby, 25, who worked for Haslingden firm Metso, died when they were dragged into a silo while working on a steel chain conveyor at the Sonae chipboard plant in Liverpool.

James’ father Louis Bibby, a Metso supervisor, yesterday faced questions from lawyers and a coroner at an inquest into their deaths.

As Mr Bibby prepared to read his statement at Bootle Town Hall in Liverpool, coroner Christopher Sumner told him to take his time and said: “This will be the most difficult part of this inquest for you.”

As Mr Bibby described the events of December 2010, he became distressed and the coroner read the second half of his statement to the court.

Mr Bibby said he understood his role between Sonae supervisors and his men to be that of a ‘liaison’ with Sonae employee Paul Atkinson. He said: “I believed Paul was my supervisor on that day. If anybody had issues or problems they came to me and I went to him.”

The inquest heard power had not been isolated to the machinery, which had been started by a computer sensor.

Expert John Moutrie said he would have expected the men to have used their own individual padlocks to make sure the power supply was locked off.

Mr Bibby said he was working elsewhere on jobs in the Sonae factory and not closely supervising staff. He said his son was experienced in handling dangerous machinery and held an Institution of Occupational Safety and Health qualification. He added: “I asked Tom if he had sufficient locks. I told them if they needed more, there were spares in my van.

“At 2.15pm I received a call from Paul Atkinson. He asked where the engineers were and why the conveyor was running.”

The inquest into the deaths of the men, who were both from the Waterfoot area, will be heard over three weeks.