UK port operator A&P Falmouth has been fined over £750,000 for a crane incident that occurred in 2017.
The incident, which occurred at Falmouth Docks in Cornwall, in May 2017, involved some sort of mechanical failure that allowed the boom to drop suddenly onto the dock below, where almost 260 people were working, thankfully no one was hurt in the incident. However, boom did come down onto a large number of Acetylene gas cylinders. The incident could so easily have resulted in multiple fatalities or injuries.
The crane dropped its boom
The crane had been operating above Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship, Tidespring, when the boom began its rapid descent, the Operator managed to react fast enough to slew the boom away from the ship as it went down onto the dock and the gas cage.
A closer look
A Health and Safety Executive investigation found A&P Falmouth had failed to properly maintain the crane. Although it had been inspected by a third-party, whose recommendations regarding a number of defects were not acted on. The company pleaded guilty and was fined £750,000 plus costs of £26,792.30.
HSE inspector Melissa Lai-Hung said: “This was a very serious incident, and it is fortunate nobody was injured or killed as a result of this catastrophic failure at Falmouth Docks. We thoroughly investigated this incident and found that A&P Falmouth Limited’s system of maintenance was not effective in preventing the collapse of the crane.”
“This case not only highlights the importance of regular proactive maintenance but also the inspection of lifting equipment. Companies looking for advice in these areas can find readily available and free guidance on the HSE website.”
Vertikal Comment
It looks as though the failure here involved the failure of the boom luffing hoist or brake. Sadly any technical report on the failure has not been as widely circulated as it might have been. We certainly have not seen it yet.
But a more serious issue, is that it is almost seven and half years have passed since this incident took place, and it is only now that a verdict has been given. That is shocking and inexcusable in these days of immediate communication.
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