Bouygues UK sentenced for serious crane safety breaches 27 February 2014

Bouygues UK has been ordered to pay more than £250,000 in fines and costs for safety failings after a worker was killed by a large concrete beam during a dangerous lifting operation in strong winds at a hospital construction site in Essex.

Guilherme de Oliveira, 44, sustained fatal crush injuries in the incident at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford on 10 November 2008. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive), which investigated, told the court that the agency worker was fixing beams across supporting towers, with the beams lifted from ground level to the work area by a tower crane.

He and another banksman climbed the support towers to unhook the lifting chains from the seven-metre concrete beam, but before he could disconnect his side, the wind gusted to more than 72km/h, exceeding the safe parameters of the crane.

As a result, the slew brakes slipped and the crane moved, catching the worker and crushing him between the beam and an adjacent tower.

The HSE investigation found that four tower cranes were in operation at the site, each one fitted with a sensor that measured wind speed and provided warnings at pre-set values.

The sensors were linked to a computer in the site office to allow managers to monitor data and supervise lifting operations. However, at the time of the incident it was not being monitored, with on-site arrangements allowing crane operators to check their own displays.

"Although the judge was not satisfied that the company's failings were a direct cause for Mr de Oliveira's death, he said there was a systemic failure where a risk of serious injury was foreseeable," comments HSE inspector Dominic Elliss.

"Lifting operations can be highly hazardous and the appropriate standards are clearly set out in both the regulations and industry guidance," he continues.

"There is no excuse to ignore them and I would urge all those undertaking such work to review the effectiveness of their own controls to ensure safety on construction sites."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Health & Safety Executive

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.