17.07.2008

Crane tip costs £17,000

The UK Health & Safety Executive has warned crane rental companies today regarding the proper planning of work, in order to help avoid overturning.

The warning follows the conclusion of a case against Cheshire Crane Hire of Nant Road, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, UK, after one of its 60 tonne All Terrain cranes tipped over last year due to a lack of suitable cribbing under the outriggers.
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The mats used can be seen to the left of the photo

Cheshire Crane was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £8,842 at Wirral Magistrates’ Court for the overturning at the Champion Spark Plug plant in Upton, Wirral last March.
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The outriggers punched through the soft ground as soon as the weight of the chimney was taken

According to HSE Inspector Neil Jamieson, who investigated the accident: “Frank Preston the company’s managing director had estimated the weight of chimney stack that had to be lifted at about six tonnes. However its actual weight was more than double that figure. He also failed to explain the type of contract to his client, nor did he ask him to sign any papers, which is essential good practice.”
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The Steel chimney weighed twice that estimated

“It is essential that for all lifting operations, proper planning - including careful assessment of the ground conditions and appropriate methods of work – should be adopted. It is fortunate in this case that nobody was hurt, but there was the potential for fatalities.”

The crane was parked on a tarmac surface, but the crane’s outriggers were extended onto the adjacent grass. The outrigger mats used were inadequate for the ground conditions and once the crane took the weight of the 23 metre long steel stack from the outside wall of a brick clad machinery room the outriggers punched through the ground and the crane overturned.

Fortunately nobody was injured in the incident, although the carrier cab of the Tadano Faun crane crushed an electricity sub station and the crane’s diesel and hydraulic tanks leaked out over the following days, contaminating a local brook.

Cheshire Crane pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (HSWA) in that it failed to ensure the safety of its employee.