Health and Safety Failings – Firm fined after crane worker fatally injured

Firm fined after crane worker fatally injured

Key Facts

• A crane worker suffered fatal crush injuries after becoming trapped between drive motors
• A lack of suitable risk assessments were blamed for a lack of a safe system of work.
• The firm pleaded guilty and were fined £300,000.

The Case

An HSE investigation was launched after a crane worker suffered fatal crush injuries. The 22 year old maintenance engineer was working on a crane alongside an experienced crane operator. He became trapped between drive motors, and suffered fatal crush injuries.

The subsequent HSE investigation found that the incident arose from a failure to properly risk assess operations and to free the crane cab when it became stuck and to therefore develop a safe system of work for this.

The case was heard at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court where the firm pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £300,000.

What the HSE had to say

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Russell Berry said

‘This tragic loss of a young life came about due to Clydeport Operations Limited’s continued failure to deal with a problem with the cab sticking on an unloader crane at the terminal jetty at Hunterston Coal Terminal.  The company repeatedly put their maintenance engineers at risk when they had to retrieve the crane cab when it stuck out on the boom of the crane. The lack of risk assessment for retrieving the cab led to an ad hoc unsafe system of work being developed which continued for approximately 8 months up until the time of Mr Logan’s death.’

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