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Incident and prosecution combine as spur to further improvements

Cranes Today has reported lessons have been learned by Select Plant Hire after a crane incident, subsequent prosecution and fine of £100k.

A spokesperson for the company is reported as saying:“The company has had an impeccable record and we take the safety of employees, of our partners and of course the wider public extremely seriously.

The company is committed to ensuring safety on all its sites and deeply regrets the circumstances which led to this isolated incident. Lessons have been learned from this, long before today’s case, and a thorough review undertaken of all crane procedures to ensure nothing like this can happen again.”

Improvements include:

• two days a month of formal training for operatives;
• six days a month of refresher training;
• creating two new roles to oversee safety and onsite work practices;
• opening a new crane training facility;
• introducing a critical culture so employees are encouraged to ask questions;
• introducing method statements with visual aids;
• piloting 3D technologies as visual aids;
• a detailed load list ensuring all crane components are delivered to site;
• employee newsletter with a focus on legislation and good, and bad, practices.
• instructional DVD which has potential for wider use in the crane industry.

Comment: Responsible companies ensure that all incidents are properly and proportionately investigated to identify the immediate, underlying and root causes plus the actions required for future prevention. Sadly, the positive steps taken by companies after a serious incidents are rarely shared and publicised. The open approach adopted by Select Plant Hire in this case is very helpful and encouraging.

Perhaps the construction industry and HSE should take a lead from Select and introduce a nationwide scheme (anonymous entries) for sharing information on incidents and the lessons learned.

This article was posted on 7th October 2009 in ALL LATEST NEWS, PROSECUTIONS, lifting operations.
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