Crane collapse a health and safety issue
Two construction firms now face fines because of a crane collapse. The crane collapsed in Liverpool near an apartment block crushing the driver and leaving him paralysed from the waist down to his feet. The crane was 79 metres high. The driver was working on a huge project to build a new eight-storey hotel and apartment complex in 2009. The HSE was brought in to conduct health and safety audits after the incident to determine where fault might have fallen in terms of workstation risk assessments and proper training. The Liverpool court heard about the incident wherein the 56 tonne crane broke free crashing through six floors and the roof. The driver was 55 years old at the time of the incident. He fell from the cab and onto the roof. He fell further through a hole created by the crane. Due to the fall, he suffered a brain haemorrhage along with many broken bones. The spinal injury was severe.
About 64 apartments were evacuated during the incident where some individuals suffered minor injuries. It was found that the crane’s feet were sitting on four concrete piles, but the reinforcement bars were cut so that the crane would fit. It weakened the foundation resulting in the accident that has left one worker changed for the rest of his life. One of the companies had to undergo liquidation and was charged £1,000 because the other money went to the payments for the victims.
