Cheshire Crane Hire fined for vehicle overturn

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Flintshire-based Cheshire Crane Hire has been fined £8,000 after one of its 60 tonne mobile cranes overturned at the former Champion Spark Plug premises in Wirral last year.

Health and Safety inspector Neil Jamieson said the incident occurred after the firm's managing director Frank Preston underestimated the weight of the load being moved from a refurbishment site by almost half.

And although the crane was parked on a tarmac surface, its outriggers were positioned on soft ground.

The crane overturned while attempting to lift a 12 tonne-plus, 23m long steel chimney stack from the outside wall of a brick clad machinery room. The stack fell next to the boom of the crane. 

Mr Jamieson said nobody had been injured, but the crane's cab crushed an adjacent electricity sub station and in subsequent days the crane's diesel and hydraulic tanks leaked out contaminating a local brook.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act at the Wirral Magistrates' Court.

It was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £8,842.

Mr Jamieson said: "Frank Preston had estimated the weight of the tower at about six tonnes, but its actual weight was more than double that figure. He also failed to explain the type of contract to his client, nor did he ask him to sign any papers, which is essential good practice.

"It is fortunate in this case that nobody was hurt, but there was the potential for fatalities."