Company issued fine after crane collapses
A company has been hit with a fine following an incident in which a crane collapsed, endangering the lives of employees.
The incident occurred in March last year when a 60-tonne mobile crane - which was found to be both overloaded and situated on soft ground - overturned.
It was in the process of lifting a long chimney stack from the outside wall of a brick clad machinery room.
The cab of the vehicle crushed an electricity substation and leaking diesel contaminated a local brook.
During a recent hearing at Wirral magistrates' court, Cheshire Crane Hire - which is based in the north-east Wales county of Flintshire - was ordered to pay £8,000, plus costs of £8,842.
"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," stated Health and Safety Executive inspector Neil Jamieson.
18/07/2008 15:01
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