Urban Summit Construction Ltd has been fined after a workman died when a load fell from a tower crane during a lifting operation in Colchester, Engin January 2014.
The company was the appointed Principal Contractor for the construction project at King Edward Quay, Haven Road, Colchester, where 780 student accommodation apartments were being constructed.
It was during a lifting operation involving a tower crane that the load became detached from the chains and struck the banksman who was in charge of the operation. David Holloway, 35, sustained extensive injuries and died on site.
HSE investigators found that the company failed to ensure that lifting operation was carried out in a safe manner.
Must be carried out without risk to those in the area
Urban Summit Construction Ltd of 15 California, Little Downham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2UF, were fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £29,127 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 8 (1)(c) of The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector David King said:
“It is essential that lifting operations are carried out in a safe manner, to help ensure the lift is carried out without risk to those in the area. Lifting operations must be properly planed by a competent person, carried out by adequately trained persons, and with appropriate supervision.”
Guidance on carrying out lifting operations safely is freely available on HSE’s website, if this company had properly planned and supervised this work, this tragic incident could have been avoided”
