A Hertfordshire-based company has been prosecuted after a construction worker suffered head injuries when beams fell from a crane and struck him.

In September 2007, 58-year-old Stephen James was working as a ‘slinger’ directing crane drivers for John Doyle Construction Ltd at a residential development at Wilton Plaza in Victoria, south London.

Mr James had slung 20 steel beams onto two chains attached to a tower crane to be moved across site.

The 2.7-metre beams were slung with 6-metre length chains attached to the crane – but as the load was lowered, it hit a piece of reinforcing bar protruding from a first floor slab.

The chains came together, allowing the beams to slip from them.

Mr James suffered head and multiple injuries – including severe damage to his right arm and leg. He has a metal plate in his head and has been unable to work since the accident.

The HSE investigation found the lifting of the beams was not carried out in a safe manner – and the site was congested with building materials at the time of the accident. The HSE concluded that there should have been a specified safe zone for lifting materials.

On Friday (30/04/10) at City of London Magistrates’ Court, John Doyle Construction Ltd – of Little Burrow, Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire – pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1)(c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations. The firm was fined £2,000 with costs of £17,466.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Monica Babb said that the ‘terrible injuries’ suffered in the incident ‘should and could have been avoided’.

‘This type of incident illustrates the importance of lifting operations being properly supervised and carried out in a safe manner,‘ said Ms Babb.

‘The site should have been tidier – and there should have been a specific area set aside for lifting operations. This includes identifying and dealing with the risks that can arise from an overcrowded site,’ she added.

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