Agency worker pronounced dead at scene after wind causes crane accident on Chelmsford site

An agency worker has been killed in a crane accident on a Bouygues site in Chelmsford, Essex.

Eyewitnesses said that a freak gust of wind sent a crane spinning out of control and a large block of masonry being winched to the top of a building fell from the crane, killing a man below.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident occurred at the construction site of Broomfield PFI hospital in Chelmsford, at around 1.25pm yesterday.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of construction union Ucatt, said: “This is yet another terrible accident involving a crane in adverse weather conditions and it has similarities with the fatal accident in Liverpool in January 2007. Urgent progress is needed to ensure crane safety becomes a priority.”

Ritchie added: “Ucatt have repeatedly attempted to meet with Bouygues and work with them on matters of industrial relations and health and safety… but every time we have done so we have been rebuffed.”Police have now handed the investigation over to the Health and Safety Executive.

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