Falling timber seriously injures crane driver

A crane driver was seriously injured when timber flooring from a building fell on to the roof of his cab in west London.

Paramedics were called to the Thames Quay building in Chelsea Harbour yesterday morning to treat the 44-year-old mobile operator for multiple injuries.

The man suffered injuries to the head, arm and foot, and was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.

Witnesses in Thames Quay were alerted to a ‘huge crashing sound’ as the load fell down.

The crane was being used to install wooden flooring into a flat on the fifth floor of one of the exclusive blocks.

Several firefighters had been winched to the top of the crane to try and make the remainder of the precarious load safe, as police and security guards kept watch.

Source: Construction Enquirer

LST Comment: Any lifting activity should be thoroughly planned and undertaken by competent staff all of whom ideally hold appropriate CPCS cards. The person responsible for planning this activity to ensure that it is successful should also be competent and qualified who is ideally a holder of a appropriate Crane Appointed Person (Crane AP) CPCS Card. As part of the planning process the Crane AP would produce a Lift Plan, which should encompass everything from; where the crane is to be sited, the size and weight of the load, the capabilities of the crane, to any accessories that would be required to securely attach the load to the crane etc. The Crane AP remains legally responsible for the planned lift, however he may delegate the supervision of the list to a Crane Supervisor, who should be assisted by a Slinger Signaller and Crane Operator.