Fatality and serious injuries during heavy lift operation

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 1 February 2003
  • Generated on 21 March 2025
  • IMCA SF 02/03
  • 1 minute read

We have been advised of early details of the following incident which occurred at a construction site during the heavy lift of an alternator. One man was killed and nine others were injured.

What happened?

A 300 tonne alternator was being lifted using hydraulic jacks and beams. The lift was nearing completion when the equipment collapsed for unknown reasons. The exact cause of the failure is, as yet, unknown, but the company involved has instigated a review of similar types of lift, with the lifting plans and design being checked and verified by a competent specialist engineer.

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