08.07.2008

A series of unfortunate events felled Liverpool tower crane

The inquest into the death of Zbigniew Roman Swirzynsk in the Liverpool tower crane accident was told that a freak gust of wind started a chain reaction that brought down the 39 metre high crane
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According to information presented at the inquest the jib of the luffing crane was at a high angle - even maximum elevation- with a reinforcing bar frame -weighing around 250kgs on the hook, when it was caught by a short gust of wind measuring 82 kmh which caused the jib to raise further towards the vertical, removing the weight from the luffing cables. The luffing rope then managed to jump out of its sheaves, even though the cable retaining bars were in place. The load is reported to have then hung-up, possibly on the cranes tower

The gust had been short enough, possibly around a second or so, not to trigger the wind alarm which was set at three second intervals.

The operator, Barrie Walker, tried to lower the jib but with the load hung up and the luffing ropes out of the sheaves, the jib cable began looping behind the diver out of his view.

The jib then dropped suddenly, possibly after Walker slewed the load, creating a large dynamic load and causing a structural failure within the slew breaing connection to the tower. The crane then being back-heavy went over backwards, as it did so the 2.4 tonne concrete counterweights were thrown free, one of which landed on Swirzynsk killing him outright.

Geoff Frackelton, principal specialist inspector for the Health and Safety Executive in the North West, said: "The crane crashed down very violently and turned over and struck a partially constructed lift tower. As it did, it turned upside down and landed on a building."

"All cranes have to meet European Safety Standards which have a clause that states a safety bar is positioned across the pulleys to prevent the ropes coming loose. The crane satisfied all the standards for its use in this country. It was the proper crane for the job, properly set-up and correctly used according to the European Standards."

Frackleton said that the investigation had focused on the luffing sheaves and cable retainer bar he said that there was a four millimetre gap between the sheave and the bar.

"In exceptional circumstances the rope can become so taught that it can flatten-out and fit through this gap. These cranes are still being sold and still being used as they meet the safety standards. We can't control the wind and if it has happened once it could happen again."

The Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello said: “I will be writing to Lord McKenzie who is the Under-Parliamentary Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding the safety standards of the crane. It is up to him to decide whether to raise this matter with the European safety authorities."

The coroner's jury returned an accidental death verdict. The victim’s wife, Katarzyna Swirzynski, 34, attended the inquest. The couple had two children aged 13 and five.