10.07.2009

PC Harrington hit for £175,000

PC Harrington Contractors of the UK was fined £175,000 at the Old Bailey yesterday, after an employee died and another was seriously injured after a crane dislodged a platform which then fell on them, during the construction of Wembley Stadium.

PC Harrington of Grays Inn Road, London, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The court fined the company £150,000 and also ordered them to pay costs of £25,203.

The investigation followed the accident on 15th January 2004, which resulted in the death of Patrick O’ Sullivan. Both men were working on the building of the concrete superstructure of the stadium at the time.
click here to see original accident report
Giles Meredith, HSE Inspector, said: “There were many thousands of crane movements at Wembley. This incident demonstrates that when things do go wrong during lifting operations, the outcome is often very serious. Our thoughts remain with the family of Patrick O’ Sullivan who live with the consequences of this tragic event.”

PC Harrington is part of the Harrington group that owns HTC tower cranes and hoists.