Crane incident – New Street Square/New Fetter Lane, London, 19 October 2006 (update - 20 October 2006)

On the morning of 19 October 2006 on a Sir Robert McAlpine construction site at New Street Square/New Fetter Lane, London EC4, a luffing jib crane owned by Sir Robert McAlpine failed after putting down a load, leaving the crane jib hanging vertically from the mast.

The driver of the crane was not injured and there were no injuries involved to any other workers or members of the public.

The make and model of the crane is a Potain MR220, but the age is not yet known.

The crane was not overhanging the public highway, but was close by and a number of adjacent streets and buildings were evacuated.

HSE Inspectors attended the site soon after being notified on the same day, and an investigation into the incident is now ongoing.

A prohibition notice has been served during the course of the investigation preventing all further crane use on site until further notice.

Guidance on the use of cranes has been available to the industry for some time, and this has been re-enforced by a safety alert [PDF 625kb] issued by HSE on 17 October 2006.