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Tower crane hire company fined after fatal falls on construction site
Eurolift (Tower Cranes) Ltd has been fined £50k at Chichester Crown Court after conviction for an offence under the HSW Act 1974. A tower crane operated by the company collapsed during dismantling operations causing the death of two workmen in 2005 on a site in Worthing.
The deceased men were working on the jib of a tower crane. A third man, working on the mast of the crane,was instructed to start de-torquing the mast bolts of the crane. He was not trained in this job and the system he employed tragically caused the crane to collapse.
The Judge, His Honour William Wood said: “It seems to be right that Eurolift should discontinue trading rather than for me to impose a trivial fine that does not reflect the gravity of the offence.”
A second company,WD Bennett Plant and Services Ltd, has been convicted of an offence arising from the same incident but the company was not represented in court. After the conviction in March 2009 the company was put into administration. On 7 May 2009, the company name was changed to ‘WDB1′. This case was adjourned.
HSE Inspector Peter Collingwood said: “This was a wholly avoidable tragedy in which two men lost their lives and another was seriously injured. There was potential for many more lives to be lost. We would urge all employers to ensure employees are properly trained and understand the risks involved in the work they do.”