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Tragedy Shows Danger of Lifting Operation
6th Sep, 2006 to 6th Nov, 2006
Anyone involved in lifting operations on building sites should ensure they are properly planned and appropriately supervised”. This is the message from the HSE’s construction inspector, Emma Davies, following the prosecution of two construction companies at the Old Bailey recently.
John Doyle Construction Ltd of Welwyn Garden City and Exterior International plc of London were fined a total of £350,000 following the investigation into a fatal incident on a building site in 2002, at the Albion Riverside Development in Battersea.
Jack Tangey, a 29-year old New Zealander, died when a large timber shutter fell to the ground and hit him while it was being lifted to the ninth floor.
Speaking after the case, Emma Davies went on to say “the risk of serious injury or worse, from badly planned lifting operations is well known in the industry, as are the measures needed to manage them. Had these construction companies carried out an appropriate risk assessment, Mr Tangey would be alive today. This avoidable incident is an example of how badly things can go wrong when lifting operations are not planned or supervised properly. When carrying out lifting operations on site, three key elements must be in place to ensure the safety of the lift. A competent person must be involved in planning the lift, the lift must be adequately supervised, and it must be carried out safely”.
John Doyle Construction Ltd, Mr Tangey’s employer, was fined £200,000 for contravening section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and £50,000 for offences under section 3(1). Exterior International plc was fined £100,000 for contravening section 3(1).
John Doyle was a subcontractor to the principal contractor, Exterior. They both had previously pleaded guilty to the charges, but the case was referred upwards to the superior court for sentencing. Legal costs are to be agreed at a further hearing, and are likely to be large.