October 13, 2006—The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning businesses that use lifting tackle that they need to change their inspection processes, following an investigation into the death of a construction worker killed by a falling load.
The findings raise an issue related to components that are not visible unless dismantled.
Sam Ball, a 23 year-old construction worker, died at a Hertfordshire construction site in January 2002 after he was fatally injured when a concrete beam that fell from a mobile crane struck him.
Forensic investigation by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) established that a pin forming part of the lifting tackle had fractured in two places and become dislodged, causing one end of the lifting frame to drop.
Dave Rothery, Head of Operations (London, East and South East) at HSE’s Construction Division said:
“The fundamental cause of the incident was the failure of the pin, which was defective. HSE’s enquiries revealed that the South African-based manufacturer/supplier company was no longer trading and, therefore, that legal proceedings would not be possible.
“However, the investigation findings raise a wider issue for consideration by those undertaking routine examination of lifting tackle and HSE is publishing this report with a view to raising awareness of the circumstances leading to Sam Balls death and, in particular, the implications.
“We advise that where lifting tackle components are not visible, the competent person undertaking the examination should give careful consideration to the circumstances in which such components should be removed for examination or routinely replaced. Lifting equipment manufacturers and suppliers should provide information on this subject to their customers.
The report is available on the HSE Web site.
