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£750,000 fine for crane hire company after safety failings lead to two deaths (18 March 2016)

Date: 18/03/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, £750,000 fine for crane hire company after safety failings lead to two deaths

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a national crane hire company for failings that led to the death of two men, after a crane collapsed in southwest London.

In 2006, crane operator Jonathan Cloke, 37, died after falling from the crane as it collapsed. The crane fell onto Michael Alexa, 23 – a member of the public – who died as a result of his injuries.

An HSE investigation found that sections of the tower crane separated when 24 bolts failed due to metal fatigue. The crane was situated at a housing development in Thessaly Road, Battersea, southwest London.

The 24 bolts were a “significant safety feature” on the crane’s slew ring, which connected the mast or tower to the slew turret, which allows the arms of the crane (jib) to rotate through 360 degrees.

When the bolts failed, the slew turret and jib separated from the mast and fell to the ground.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation into the incident found that Falcon Crane Hire Ltd had not investigated a similar incident which had happened nine weeks before the incident, when the bolts failed on the same crane and had to be replaced.

HSE found the company had an inadequate system for managing the inspection and maintenance of their fleet of cranes – and its process to investigate the underlying causes in the failure of the cranes’ components was also inadequate.

HSE told Southwark Crown Court that the particular bolts were a safety critical component. The court also heard that the bolts failing previously was “an exceptional and significant occurrence”, which should have been recognised by Falcon Crane Hire.

On Tuesday, 15 March at Southwark Crown Court, Falcon Crane Hire Ltd was fined £750,000 and ordered to pay costs of £100,000 for breaching Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act.

After the hearing, HSE Head of Operations, Mike Wilcock, said:

“Jonathan and Michael’s deaths were tragic, needless and entirely avoidable.

“These two men need not have died, had Falcon Crane Hire taken the right, decisive action when the bolts failed the first time. The company fell far short of its health and safety obligation.”

Michael Alexa’s mother, Lilliana Alexa, added:

“Michael was a lovely son, a wonderful big brother and a devoted father. His son has had to grow up without the love and support of Michael, who adored him. He was denied that opportunity because his life was taken away – and with his, ours too.

“The memories of that day will never leave our family. We heard the crash and felt the ground shake. I found Michael and it’s an image that haunts my nightmares. If only we had stopped to chat or parked the car somewhere else, he would still be alive. We know we are not to blame, but it does not stop us all feeling guilt.

“We cannot comprehend how our beloved son, brother, father and friend who was so full of live has gone.

“The whole crane industry must learn from our tragedy and the devastation it has caused. We do not want another family to endure the same pain of losing their child.”

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