12.09.2013

Crane company fined for work at height

A UK crane rental company has been fined £8,000 for failing to make adequate provisions for safe work at height

RW Christopher Crane Hire Ltd of Pyle, near Bridgend in Wales, was fined £6,000 plus £1,904 costs after an HSE inspector attended an incident in Cardiff on 1st October last year, in which a man was injured during the stowing of a boom extension.

During his investigation he found that the crane company's employees had received no training or instruction for working at height, and the company lacked basic procedures and policies covering such work. In addition there was no provision for suitable fall arrest or restraint equipment for use while working at height on the cranes.
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A Christopher crane in action

HSE inspector Steve Richardson said: "Falls from height account for over half of all fatal incidents in the construction industry. Work at height on cranes is recognised by the industry as being high risk and must be carefully planned and properly managed by trained and competent people with the correct equipment."