The crane had been used to lift a six-tonne steel column when it was nearly 18 metres away, taking it well outside its safe lifting capacity for that distance. HSE investigation found the crane had not been properly maintained, the external alarm could not be heard by those working nearby, and the override switches were also faulty, including the switch that prevented the crane lifting loads beyond its capacity.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that 46-year-old Richard Mark Thorton was crushed to death after being struck by the column when the crane overturned. His employer, Siteweld Construction Ltd, and the managing director of the company, Benjamin Lee, were were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) . Lee, 36 of Ashley Lane, Goosnargh, Preston pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. He was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £18,478 in prosecution costs on 16 December 2011.
The crane hire firm, Bryn Thomas Crane Hire Ltd, and the crane’s operator, Frederick Scott, were also prosecuted for health and safety failings, and were sentenced at an earlier hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on 11 April 2011.
Macbrac Business Safety can train employees in Health and Safety and Risk Assessment, including the NEBOSH General Certificate and IOSH “Managing Safely”. Courses are available in Telford, Shropshire and in Central London. Contact us for more details.
Legal note:
- Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 states: “Every employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a safe manner.”
- Bryn Thomas Crane Hire Ltd, of Chester Road in Oakenholt, North Wales, admitted breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £4,500 with no costs, due to being in administration, on 11 April 2011.
- Frederick Scott, 45 of Flatt Lane in Ellesmere Port, admitted breaching Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was fined £2,500 with no costs due to his financial situation.
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