Agency worker killed in crane accident
Construction
11th November 2008
An agency worker has been killed following an accident involving a crane in Essex.
The incident took place on construction site belonging to Bouygues, reports Building.co.uk.
According to eyewitness reports, the crane was sent spinning out of control by a freak gust of wind and a large block of masonry which was being winched at the time fell on the man.
General secretary of the construction union Ucatt Alan Ritchie said the accident was similar to a fatality that occurred in Liverpool last year.
"Urgent progress is needed to ensure crane safety becomes a priority," he said, adding: "Ucatt have repeatedly attempted to meet with Bouygues and work with them on matters of industrial relations and health and safety."
The police have now handed the investigation into the death over to the Health and Safety Executive.
Ucatt, which has over 120,000 members, is also running a campaign highlighting the risks to construction workers posed by asbestos.
