Crane collapse under scrutiny

A Health and Safety Executive inspector has been on site to investigate the collapse of a crane at a site run by Bromley-based contractor Deco Design & Build.

The incident occurred at the Bird in Hand Passage in Forest Hill, Lewisham. The crane's jib was in operation at the time and is thought to have crushed a people carrier and knocked over several concrete pillars, but no one was injured, reported Building magazine.

Contract Journal said experts believe the crane's main tower is stable, so there is no need to evacuate the site or dismantle the entire crane. It also quoted Jerry Swain, UCATT regional secretary for London and the South East as saying: "Through sheer luck we are not talking about another fatality. The level of accidents involving cranes is so high that workers fear that there must be some kind of fundamental flaw in their operation or installation." One source inteviewed by Building blamed the collapse on metal fatigue.