16.01.2007

Tower crane collapses in Liverpool

A 40 metre high luffing tower crane collapsed last night on a site in the centre of Liverpool crushing a construction worker below.

The crane driver, 31 year old Barry Walker, was cut free of the cab after being trapped for over an hour, he suffered injuries to his back arms and shoulder.

Walker was probably saved by the fact that the cab did not fall all the way to the ground, he was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital where his condition is understood to be stable.

The cause of the collapse is not at all clear at the moment early pictures and reports suggest that the fault might lie with the tower itself. The crane a collapsed backwards with the jib and backmast causing the damage.
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This tower crane collapsed in Liverpool yesterday

High winds were reported which might have been a contributing factor although Met office reports suggest 30 to 40 MPH, nothing like the winds experienced earlier in the month.
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Rescue workers at the scene of the accident

The accident occurred just after 4pm yesterday afternoon on Seel street in Dukes Terrace. The site is building a luxury development of 104 one and two bedroom flats and duplex penthouses called Elysian Fields.

The crane, the only one on site is a Jaso J138 built in Spain, and owned by Falcon Crane Hire, the UK's second largest tower crane rental company.

Falcon also owned and operated the crane in the fatal Battersea accident last September.

Mike Wickham, managing director of David McLean, the main contractor on the site issued a statement saying:

"Following a serious incident at the Elysian Fields’ site in Liverpool, two men have been injured, one fatally. David McLean Contractors is fully co-operating with the Police and Health and Safety Executive, whilst they carry out their enquiries. As a result, we are currently restricted from commenting further. However, our sincere sympathies are with both families."


Vertikal Comment

This accident is a tragedy on many levels, naturally the biggest by far is that another innocent man has lost his life and a young driver has suffered injuries which might cause him permanent problems,

It is though also a tragedy for the industry, coming so soon after the last fatal accident in late September. This at a time when the industry is going through a major period of safety awareness and improvement.

It seems that the more the industry improves itself, the more accidents are occurring. It is of course a co-incidence and hopefully will serve to encourage the industry and the HSE to press ahead with the approach it is currently following and not feel pressurised into a reactive change of approach.

It was clear at last weeks tower crane interest group meeting that the industry as a whole is working hard and is keen to do everything it can to make it as safe as possible.

Contractors must also play their part though, all too often they put pressure on drivers to continue working even when wind levels are above those recommended.

While not confirmed, it is understood that at least one other site in the area had stopped operating its cranes on Monday when wind gusts rose above 35 mph.

Crane drivers need to have the power and support of their employers to say NO to contractors, and if they are employed by the contractor there needs to be a mechanism where the driver can overrule the site manager without fear for his job.