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Steel beams slip from chains causing serious injury to slinger
A contractor from Hertfordshire has been fined after a workman was seriously injured when 20 steel beams fell during a tower crane lifting operation.
City of London Magistrates heard that Stephen James suffered multiple injuries. He now has a metal plate in his head and has been unable to work since the accident.
Load struck reinforcing bar triggering incident
John Doyle Construction Ltd were constructing a residential development at Victoria, London in September 2007 when the incident occurred.
The 2.7m length beams were slung with six metre chains. Duiring the lifting operation the load struck reinforcing bar protruding from a first floor slab. The chains came together allowing the beams to slip from the chains.
HSE investigation found the lift was “not carried out in safe manner and the site was congested with building materials”. In court HSE argued that there should have been a specified safe zone for lifting.
Lifting operations must be carried out supervised and safe
The defendant company from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching LOLER Regulation 8(1)(c) and was ordered to pay almost £20k in fines and prosecution costs.
HSE inspector Monica Babb said: “the terrible injuries Mr Dawson suffered in this incident should and could have been avoided”.
She added “this type of incident illustrates the importance of lifting operations being properly supervised and carried out in a safe manner. This includes identifying and dealing with the risks that can arise from an overcrowded site.”
Comment
HSE guidance on Safe use of lifting equipment contains little detailed information on safe slinging. US regulator OSHA provides more detailed Guidance on Safe Sling Use