Two construction firms have been fined after a crane collapsed onto a partially constructed apartment block in Liverpool. The incident happened in July 2009 and left the crane driver, Iain Gillham, paralysed from the waist down. Following a successful prosecution at Liverpool Crown Court, Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd was fined £280,000 and Bingham Davis Ltd, which ceased trading after the collapse, was fined £1,000 for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the collapse found that the crane's foundations were inadequate. When constructing the foundation, both companies agreed to cut away essential steel reinforcement bars so that the crane's feet could stand on top of them. These were replaced with steel rods; an action that reduced the forces the foundation could withstand.
Although nobody inside the building was hurt, Mr Gillham was thrown from the crane cab onto the roof of the apartments and then through a hole created when the counterweights broke loose and crashed through six floors of the building. He suffered multiple injuries, including a brain hemorrhage and major spinal injuries.
Investigating HSE inspector Warren Pennington said, "Serious failings on the parts of both Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd and Bingham Davis Ltd were uncovered by the HSE during an extensive and complex investigation into the crane collapse. Whilst it is bad enough that Iain Gillham will be unable to walk for the rest of his life as a result of the failings of both parties, it is no exaggeration to say it was only by pure chance that this catastrophic event did not result in multiple fatalities and significantly more damage to property."
He added, "The HSE hopes this case sends a clear message to the construction industry in relation to tower cranes foundations. Designers of such should be familiar with industry accepted guidance and follow it, unless they have extremely well thought-out reasons for not doing so. The role of the Principal Contractor is also crucial in managing the design process. Both Principal Contractors and Designers should ensure that robust systems for design checking are actioned at all times."
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