Progress is being made on the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate’s investigation following the death of mechanical engineer Gareth Sowden.
Mr Sowden, aged 55, of Douglas, was working at a sewage treatment site in Balleira Road, Kirk Michael, at the time of the fatal accident on May 1.
Head of the government inspectorate, Bernard Warden said: ‘At the moment we are making arrangements to interview the witnesses.
‘It’s the people who were on the site at the time and people who can provide information on the way the job was planned and delivered.’
He said it was a ‘slow process’ because some of the witnesses are based in the UK.
Mr Warden said the main objectives in the work of the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate were to identify any lessons that need to be learned to ensure the risk of another accident happening in the future was minimised.
In addition, its their aim to establish the level of compliance with the relevant health and safety legislation.
At the outset of the investigation, Mr Warden said he expected it would take six months to complete.
One month in, he said: ‘There is no reason why it shouldn’t be nearing completion at around that time.’
So far, the investigation has involved making requests for documentary information from all the parties involved.
When asked whether he was happy with the progress of the investigation, Mr Bernard said: ‘I’m never pleased with the progress of investigations – it’s always too slow.’
But he said it was progressing.
Once the investigation is completed, a report will be submitted to the coroner.
Coroner John Needham opened the inquest into Mr Sowden’s death last month.
It found he died from multiple injuries due to or as a result of crush injuries.
The coroner heard he died after a drilling, shipping container came down on him.
The Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority contracted out its project to redevelop the sewage treatment works at Kirk Michael.
The project involves the plant being replaced by two Integral Rotating Biological Contactor (IRBC) plants.
It was originally anticipated the work would be completed by the summer.