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Battersea crane collapse case moves to crown court

2 Mar 15 The prosecution of Falcon Crane Hire Ltd and its managing director over a tower crane collapse nine years ago moves to Southwark Crown Court next week.

The BPR 222 crane was 27 years old
The BPR 222 crane was 27 years old

Westminster Magistrates Court heard the charges against Falcon Crane Hire Ltd and Douglas Genge last week.

Crane operator Jonathon Cloke, 37, fell to his death from inside the cab of the crane when it overloaded and collapsed at a Barratt Homes site in Battersea in September 2006. A section of the crane then struck and killed Michael Alexa, 23, as he cleaned his car in a neighbouring street outside the development.

A hearing is scheduled at Southwark Crown Court for 9.30am on 11th March 2015.

The inquest, held three years ago, heard that the accident was caused by the wrong counterweight being fitted to the counterjib of the tower crane. This meant that not only were the bolts in the slew ring under more stress than they were designed to take, but also that they were torqued when the crane was out of balance. This led to them failing and the top of the crane coming crashing down. The fact that the 27-year-old BPR 222 crane had the wrong manual with it contributed to the fact that the counterweight error was not spotted before or during assembly.

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MPU
MPU

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