Man killed in complex lifting operation

The importance of proper training, planning and risk assessment has been highlighted through the case of a man who was killed at work when a lifting operation resulted in a heavy object landing on his head.

Proper consideration had not been given to the task which involved lifting two large structures with a crane and balancing one on top of the other.

An overhead travelling crane was used to place a nine metre steel structure on top of a similar structure, both weighing 1.5 tonnes each, when the top one dislodged and trapped the worker between the two, killing him instantly.

The workers were attempting to load the structures into a container, but on finding they would not fit were placing them on the ground next to it and had been directed to stack them on top of one another.

As the lifting chains were released a slippage occurred with the objects and the top one dislodged from the bottom, causing the fatal accident.

Such a complex operation requires staff to be specifically trained and have the magnitude of the consequence of any breaches of health and safety explained to them.

As it stood the workers were not fully briefed with information on the size, weight or centre of gravity of the objects they were moving or ways in which they could prevent accidents.

Knowing about the centre of gravity would have meant the load could be slung in a matter properly calculated for such a weight.

Other issues with the incident included the use of defective lifting equipment, an inaccurate diagram and an investigation by the Health & Safety Executive revealed the objects were likely to fall unexpectedly by the manner in which they were to be balanced.

A diagram of the intended position of the structures was actually impossible to achieve and it was inevitable that in trying to do so an accident would occur.

Proper planning and supervision should have been provided by the company who have been fined £180,000 and £47,500 in costs for the incident.

Sue Thompson, a principle inspector for HSE, said: "Because of this company's failures, one man lost his life and another will have to live with the after effects of witnessing such a horrific incident."

They breached Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, putting the safety of their employees in jeopardy.

Since April last year it has been legislative policy that all cranes being operated on construction sites are registered with certain information about the crane provided and extending it to other industries could help to prevent such accidents.

The victim's mother said after the prosecution: "The penalty imposed on the firm will never bring him back but we are pleased that the seriousness of what happened that day has been recognised by the court."