Health and Safety Failings – Lift malfunction at London’s Tower Bridge leads to prosecution

Lift Malfunction at London’s Tower Bridge leads to prosecution

Key Facts: 

• A lift carrying 9 tourists and 1 agency worker plummeted 3 metres following a lift malfunction.
• The ‘catastrophic failing’ could have been avoided through proper review of earlier failings.
• The lift maintenance firm was fined £50,000 and costs of £50,000.

The Case:

In an incident on 11 May 2009, a lift at London’s Tower Bridge tourist attraction suffered vital mechanism failure that sent it falling three metres into a service pit. The lift malfunction was caused by the failure of a counterweight mechanism, which sent the lift dropping below ground level.

Nine tourists and one agency worker were in the lift when it fell. Four people suffered bone fractures, and the other six were treated for shock.

The lift malfunction incident resulted in an HSE investigation, supported by the HSL. This revealed that there had been several previous component failures with the counterweight mechanism on two other lifts at the attraction. These components had been replaced without proper review, and with no investigation into why they were failing so early. The HSE concluded that had there been a proper review into the counterweight mechanisms then the catastrophic failure of the third lift could have been avoided. The fact this had not happened was indicative of wider failings.

The case against the company responsible for servicing and maintaining the lift was heard at Southwark Crown Court on 6 March 2015. They pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 in costs as a result of the lift malfunction and surrounding issues.

An image of the damaged counterweight mechanism that led to the lift malfunction

What the HSE inspector had to say:

Speaking after the hearing the HSE Inspector Michael La Rose stated that:

“This was a truly disturbing incident that affected a number of people and that could have resulted in even greater injuries.

It is vital that lifts are properly maintained, and that urgent action is taken if any possible issues or concerns are identified. There were warning signs here that were seemingly overlooked, and missed opportunities to properly rectify recurring faults.

Temple Lifts could and should have done more to ensure the lift was properly maintained, and there were clear failings in this regard.”

What the law states:

Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states:

It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

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