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Family of deceased man express concern at ‘shocking’ inadequate sentences
Crane hire firm Bryn Thomas Crane Hire Ltd and crane operator Frederick Scott have been prosecuted after a man was crushed to death when a 50-tonne mobile crane overturned.
Richard Mark Thornton, 46, died when the crane overturned during the lifting a steel beam. Mr Thornton was working for Siteweld Construction when the incident happened on March 29 2007.
He was involved in construction of a new warehouse floor at Wavertree Business Park in Liverpool when the crane overturned during lifting of a six-tonne steel column.
Employer to be sentenced in June
Crane operator Frederick Scott was fined £2,500 and crane hire firm Bryn Thomas Crane Hire Ltd, was ordered to pay £4,500. The judge made no order for costs and said the fines had been reduced due to Scott’s ability to pay and Bryn Thomas being in administration.
Mr Scott had failed to check the crane could safely lift the load and Bryn Thomas Crane Hire Ltd failed to ensure the crane was well maintained.
Siteweld Construction will be sentenced in June following disclosure of further financial information. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the work was properly planned and carried out in a safe safe manner.
The eldest daughter of Mr Thornton said the fines were “absolutely shocking”:
“The punishment doesn’t reflect the severity of it. All the companies made mistakes or ignored health and safety regulations which killed our dad. I get married next year and my sister the year after and there will be a massive hole in our weddings, no-one to walk us down the aisle or make a speech. We’re going to live with this forever and they just get a fine and that’s that.”
HSE Inspector Sarah Wadham said:
“This accident was wholly avoidable. Cranes should be properly maintained and work should be properly planned and undertaken safely. In this case, this didn’t happen.”