Konecranes UK Ltd was contracted to keep the cranes at Drax in good order. However, a 13kg counterweight fell from a crane four metres above and landed on a workers foot, the subsequent investigation revealed that Konecranes had missed the last two four-monthly inspections and had so neglected the crane for nine months without checking it.
As client, Drax Power Ltd has also taken its share of the blame. Both companies were yesterday fined £13,000 by Selby magistrates.
The court heard that a mechanical fitter, from Scunthorpe, had been operating the 20t crane with a colleague and needed it to change direction. Both men were using the steel pole provided to pull down on a chain which operated the steering mechanism.
As they did, the counterweight and chain detached from the crane and came crashing down. At the same time, the 19-year-old worker lost his balance and kicked into his colleague, forcing him out of the way. The weight landed on his right foot fracturing it despite his reinforced safety boots.
The incident happened on 22 March 2011.
Selby magistrates heard that specialist Health & Safety Executive (HSE) engineers found that the 13kg weight was not suitably secured in place and was attached with only a single nut or bolt.
All six cranes in the mill bay area of the plant were taken out of use after the incident. Three of them were behind schedule for servicing and numerous defects were found by independent assessors.
HSE inspector Andy Denison said: “It is not acceptable to turn a blind eye to the on-going maintenance and repair of work equipment. The injured worker is, in a sense, fortunate to have suffered only a broken foot. A13kg weight falling from height could have resulted in a much more serious, or even fatal, injury.
“Drax Power and Konecranes didn’t ensure the crane was kept in good working order and this led to the failure of the connection between the counter-balance weight and the steering mechanism of the crane.
“Konecranes had fallen behind on servicing and failed to catch up. Their engineers also gave priority to breakdowns over maintenance. Drax continued to allow the cranes to be used even after they found out they had not been serviced. Companies cannot simply contract out their responsibilities and then let the contractor get on with it without checking the work is being done.”
Drax Power Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to ensure the crane was in good working order. Konecranes UK Ltd, of West Bromwich, West Midlands, admitted a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Each company was fined £13,300 and ordered to pay costs of £3,151.
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