‘Precautionary approach’ adopted after recent fatal accidents involving crane hire firm’s vehicles
The Health and Safety Executive has ordered Falcon Crane Hire to take all of its cranes that have not been independently inspected out of service immediately.
The order comes after two fatal accidents involving the collapse of the company’s tower cranes in less than four months. On Monday this week, a worker was killed when a crane provided by Falcon collapsed in Liverpool; last September, a worker and a member of the public died in a similar tragedy involving a Falcon crane in Battersea.
The prohibition notice will affect up to 180 tower cranes which are currently on construction sites throughout the country. The move comes on the day that Building launched its Safer Skyline campaign to address concerns over crane safety.
In a statement, the HSE said that although it is too early for the exact cause of either failure to be identified, the HSE has decided to adopt a “precautionary approach” and ban the use of all cranes until they have been checked by an independent expert.
The HSE said: “We are conscious of the severe disruption this will cause but we are sure that the industry will support our action in the interests of the safety of workers and the public. HSE would like to emphasise that Falcon Crane Hire has cooperated fully and has agreed the steps they will take to comply with the notice.”
