This month, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served a prohibition notice under the Health and Safety at Work 1974 on Falcon Crane Hire Ltd, of Shipdam, Norfolk. This required them, with immediate effect, to take out of service all tower cranes in their fleet which have not been subject to a thorough examination by an independent competent person.
The HSE has taken this action following the collapse of two of the company's tower cranes in less than four months at sites in Battersea, and Liverpool. Both incidents are the subject of on-going investigations and the exact causes have not yet been identified. Nevertheless this precautionary measure aims to require the company to show that those cranes which have been thoroughly examined are safe to continue in operation.
The notice will affect up to 180 tower cranes which are currently erected on construction sites throughout Great Britain. Cranes which have already been examined are not affected, and can continue in service.
