Brother NWpostie remember the following:
What is the right to be accompanied?
Where a worker is required or invited by his employer to attend a disciplinary or grievance hearing and the worker 'reasonably requests' to be accompanied at the hearing the employer must allow the worker to be accompanied by a 'single companion'.
What is a 'hearing' in this context?
A disciplinary hearing is defined as a hearing the outcome of which could be the issuing of a formal warning, some other disciplinary action being taken, or confirmation of these sanctions (for example, an appeal hearing).
There is no right to be accompanied at informal discussions or counselling/advisory meetings unless the outcome of the meeting could be a formal warning or other action. Workers often ask to be accompanied at investigatory meetings. However, there is no right to be accompanied at these and you are entitled to refuse such a request unless your own policy or contract gives a right to be accompanied.
in your mitigating circumstances you didn't think that you had applied the HCT brakes you are 100% sure you applied the brakes correctly. Could they be faulty and if this is the case why is your DOM allowing workplace apparatus out on the streets which is not fit for purpose.