23.10.2003

Crawler crane collapses on Southend jobsite

A Sumitomo SC350 crawler crane on hire from Wharton Plant Hire collapsed on a Southend-on-Sea job site in Essex, UK last week causing damages of up to £200,000.

The jib of the 35 tonne capacity machine complete with load crumpled to the ground after the crane’s winch was left unsupervised to raise the jib, causing it to arch over the crane’s cab and eventually collapse to the ground to the rear of the crane. No-one was hurt in the accident.

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A Sumitomo SC350 crawler crane.

The Health and Safety Executive is waiting for a report from the main contractor on the project, Fitzpatrick, who is in turn awaiting a report from the subcontractor that was responsible for the crane’s operation. The crane's owner Wharton Plant Hire declined to comment on the accident.