Worker hit by steel plate falling from crane
- Safety Flash
- Published on 24 April 2018
- Generated on 20 December 2025
- IMCA SF 09/18
- 1 minute read
The UK Health & Safety Executive (UK HSE) reports that a company has been fined after an employee was injured when he was struck by a steel plate that fell from a crane.
What went wrong? What were the causes?
A person was carrying out work on a new metal staircase which was under construction. The task involved using a crane to lift a steel sheet attached to a magnet, but the sheet became detached from the magnet and fell, striking the injured person on the back and causing severe back injuries. The worker fractured his spine and has been unable to continue working as a steel fixer.
The UK HSE investigation found that the company had failed to ensure that the lifting equipment was of adequate strength and stability for each load. Whilst the safe working load was 1000 kg, the magnet had to be de-rated to take into account the thinness and the length of the metal being lifted. The company also failed to ensure that the lifting operation was planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.
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