At a sentencing hearing in the Old Bailey, London’s central criminal court, on December 21, the company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £12,526. The company had previously admitted a breach of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The accident happened at a construction site in Westminster, London, in 2005. The company was using a 250t Liebherr mobile, on hire (without an operator) from Baldwins Crane Hire. Accoding to the UK Health & Safety Executive, the mobile crane was moved several times. When it was placed in its final position it was noticed that the mobile crane could hit a lamppost. Adjustments were not made that took in to account the position of the lamppost. As a result the mobile crane struck the lamp post which shattered and fell.
A HSE spokesman explained to Cranes Today that the crane’s counterweight had hit the lamppost as it was slewing. The damaged pieces of lamppost struck a worker. He needed to have his foot amputated as a result of the accident.
Monica Babb, HSE Inspector said: “Crane operations can present serious risks and it is therefore essential that crane installation is properly planned and implemented. Management systems should be clear so that a safe system of work is employed and incidents such as this are avoided.”
