Crane accidents at work

09/08/2007

Over the last 12 months the construction industry has seen an increase in the number of accidents that take place at work involving cranes.

In September 2006 a crane in Battersea collapsed killing the driver and a member of the public who was passing the site. This was quickly followed by two deaths in separate incidents in Liverpool, both also due to collapsing cranes.

The tragedies prompted the Health and Safety Executive to send out reminders on crane safety to all companies that own or hire cranes.

Accidents have continued into 2007 when four people were working on a crane when it collapsed in Croydon. Three of the workers were trapped in the tower of the crane for seven hours until they were rescued.

David Urpeth, a solicitor specialising in accidents at work at law firm Irwin Mitchell commented: "As development booms in many of our towns and cities the sight of tower cranes is becoming more and more common. As such, it is imperative for the safety of those in and around the cranes that there installation and operation is done with utmost safety in mind.

"The recent spate of crane accidents is therefore of huge concern in relation to the health and safety of workers and members of the public."