Man Left With Multiple Fractures After Work Accident

An equipment firm has been ordered to pay £100,000 after the cab of a crane collapsed off its mast and smashed through the roof of a south London hotel, causing £4.8 million in damage and lost business.

Workman John Young was left trapped hanging through the roof above a room in the Croydon Park Hotel after the cab he was in fell from the crane.

Mr Young, from East Sussex, was left with multiple fractures and needed to use a body brace after the accident in the summer of 2007, and still suffered from pain and nightmares.

Workers attempting to extend the crane mast had removed vital fittings, leaving the cab balanced on top, the Old Bailey heard.

Two essential bolts had not been used to secure the cab, said the prosecutor Oliver Glasgow, and workers were found not to have been trained in adjusting the model of crane.

An independent safety inspector had not been employed to supervise, the trial also found.

Select Plant Hire Company Limited, of Dartford, admitted breaching Health and Safety law. Their representative Andrew Kinnier said they had since improved safety measures and put in place new training for staff.

Copyright © Press Association 2009

David Urpeth, an expert in workplace accidents from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “I welcome the fine imposed following this very serious and horrific accident at work.

“I, and I am sure the public at large, are concerned about the numbers of accidents recently involving cranes and I would like to see owners and operators of such equipment improve their standards of installation and maintenance so as to avoid the risk of injury or death following a serious work accident.”