Firm fined a decade on from fatal incident

Crane operator Jonathan Cloke, 37, died after falling from the crane as it collapsed. A member-of-the-public, 23-year-old Michael Alexa, had also been killed in the incident

Southwark Crown Court heard how sections of the tower crane, which was being used at a Battersea housing development, separated when a series of bolts failed.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the tragedy, which occurred in September 2006, found that Falcon Crane Hire Ltd had failed to investigate a similar incident which happened nine weeks before, when the bolts failed on the same crane and had to be replaced.

The watchdog found the company had an inadequate system to manage the inspection and maintenance of their fleet of cranes.

Mike Wilcock, HSE’s head of operations, said: “Jonathan and Michael’s deaths were tragic, needless and entirely avoidable. These two men need not have died had Falcon Crane Hire taken the right, decisive action when the bolts failed the first time. The company fell far short of its health and safety obligation.”

Falcon Crane Hire Ltd were fined £750,000 and ordered to pay an additional £100,000 in costs.

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