Investigation highlights crane-maintenance failings

Two companies have admitted failing to properly maintain and inspect cranes at a power station in North Yorkshire, where a worker suffered a broken foot when a load fell from an overhead crane.

The incident took place at Drax Power Ltd’s facility in Selby on 22 March 2009. Two workers, who were employed by Drax Power, were operating a 21-tonne overhead crane to move a metal lifting frame.

They were using a steel pole to pull down on a chain, which operated the crane’s steering mechanism. When they pulled on the pole, in order to change the direction that the crane was moving, the counter-balance weight and chain detached from the crane and fell. The 13kg weight landed on the right foot of one of the workers, who despite wearing reinforced safety boots, suffered a fracture.

The HSE’s investigation learned that Konecranes UK Ltd was the permanent on-site contractor responsible for maintaining the cranes and hoists. HSE inspector Andy Denison told SHP that the counter-balance and chain were not suitably secured, as they were only being held in place by a single nut and bolt.

The inspector also discovered the crane had missed two of its four-monthly services, meaning it was nine months since it was last fully checked. There were five other cranes at the site and three of these were also found to be behind schedule for servicing. Numerous defects were found on these cranes, including the tightness of chains and weak connections between the crane and the counter-balance.

Inspector Denison said: “It’s not acceptable to turn a blind eye to the ongoing maintenance and repair of work equipment. This incident could have resulted in a much more serious, or even fatal, injury. €

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.

Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.

Listen now!