Falmouth dock firm fined £750k for crane collapse
It's been called a 'very serious incident' by the Health and Safety Executive
A Cornish dock operator's been fined £750,000 after a crane collapsed at its site on Falmouth Docks.
Emergency services declared a major incident following the collapse at A&P Falmouth on the 10th of May 2017, with the Health and Safety Executive saying more than 250 people were put at risk.
The crane had been operating above Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship, Tidespring, when the driver noticed the jib was descending uncontrollably.
The driver managed to move the crane away from RFA Tidespring and over the dockside before it collapsed, with the jib landing on a cage of acetylene cylinders.
There were approximately 258 workers on site at the time.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found A&P Falmouth had failed to properly maintain the crane.
Although the crane had been examined by a third-party, its recommendations regarding defects were not acted on by A&P Falmouth.
"It is fortunate nobody was injured or killed"
A&P Falmouth Limited, of Wagonway Road, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company has been fined £750,000 and ordered to pay £26,792.30 in costs at Truro Crown Court.
HSE inspector Melissa Lai-Hung said: “This was a very serious incident and it is fortunate nobody was injured or killed as a result of this catastrophic failure at Falmouth Docks.
“We thoroughly investigated this incident and found that A&P Falmouth Limited’s system of maintenance was not effective in preventing the collapse of the crane.
“This case not only highlights the importance of regular proactive maintenance but also the inspection of lifting equipment. Companies looking for advice in these areas can find readily-available and free guidance on the HSE website.”