Botched lift leaves worker with punctured lungs

Grant Prior 12 years ago
Share

A lifting specialist has been fined after a worker sustained life-threatening injuries at a hotel construction site in Stratford, east London.

The 25-year-old from Gravesend, who does not wish to be named, punctured both lungs, broke 17 ribs and suffered major internal trauma during the incident on November 15 2011.

He was in intensive care for eight days and was off work for more than five months.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that his employer, Rollmark Engineering Limited, trading as MRI London, was contracted to move large items of equipment into a lower ground plant room at the hotel.

The injured worker was one of five MRI employees attempting to move a vessel weighing 1.3 tonnes into the room using a chain blocks and hoists.

One worker was operating the hoists, two others were standing alongside the vessel to steady it and the final two, including the injured party, were standing on the edge of a raised ledge to provide further steadying support.

The vessel had been manoeuvred so that two of its feet were on the floor, but as it was being raised to stand fully upright the injured worker fell from the upper level.

At the same time the vessel detached from a load hook and fell on top of him, pinning and crushing him against the edge of the ledge.

An HSE investigation found that although MRI had prepared a risk assessment and method statement for the work it was deficient in several areas.

The statement was lacking detail, the wrong lifting equipment was specified and the assessment was not site specific, failing to acknowledge the actual risks associated with moving equipment down into the plant room.

HSE also found that the lifting equipment being used included a defective chain block hoist that had a missing safety catch.

Rollmark Engineering Limited of Gravesend was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £14,860 in costs after pleading guilty to safety breaches.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Eileen Gascoigne said: “This serious incident was entirely preventable and clearly demonstrates the need to ensure that lifting operations are planned and managed with the utmost care, especially when they involve heavy items of kit or machinery.

“Had the work been better assessed, and had the right equipment been provided, then the trauma the worker endured could have been avoided.

“He and his colleagues were placed at unnecessary risk, and I hope today’s prosecution sends a clear message to anyone undertaking such operations.”

Latest news

Balfour Beatty terminates Danny Sullivan labour deals

Around 500 workers on HS2 will be moved to alternative agencies or be taken on direct
2 days ago

Trio face prosecution after Hinkley site death

Main contractors and client to face charges over death of site supervisor
2 days ago

Buyers see recovery in house building sector

But civil and commercial work still in the doldrums
3 days ago

Apprentice saws-off thumb on hotel refurb site

Court hears how digit was reattached and teenager continued training with another firm
2 days ago

Laing O’Rourke tops June contracts league

£919m animal super lab dominates new orders
3 days ago

TSL turnover smashes £500m as profit almost trebles

Data centre and logistics contractor rises high on surging demand
3 days ago

Gleeson Homes chief exec leaves business after restructure

Management revamp after "challenging" year
3 days ago

Green light for 1,600-home Oldham town centre overhaul

Plans for over 1,600 homes across six regeneration sites approved
3 days ago

DSM wins Norwich city centre clearance job

Anglia Square shopping centre clearance for £300m scheme
3 days ago

13-year-old becomes UK’s youngest qualified digger driver

Grandson of Gallagher Group chairman sets industry record
3 days ago

Cubby reborn in £12m Svella-backed takeover

£50m revenue target set as 14 firms combine under new Cubby Group banner
4 days ago

North East NHS trusts plot £3bn health estate overhaul

Market engagement begins for major construction push across four trusts
4 days ago

HG goes green on cranes in £1.2m switch to battery power

Diesel-free crane drive cuts fuel bills by 94%
4 days ago

Developer fined £165,000 for fire safety failings

Firm ignored fire safety orders on apartment job in Preston
4 days ago

Bidding to start for £1.8bn North West framework

Contractors invited to bid for latest Procure Partnerships deal
4 days ago

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
4 days ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
5 days ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
5 days ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
5 days ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
6 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
5 days ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
5 days ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
5 days ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
6 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
6 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
6 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
7 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
6 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
6 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
6 days ago