10/08/2010 - 44-tonne machine crashed on to road
A 44-tonne machine which crashed on to a busy main road in Hull has resulted in two construction companies being prosecuted.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Multibuild Ltd and Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering Ltd who pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws.
Hull Crown Court heard that on December 10, 2007, a piling machine rolled across a main road during evening rush hour after falling over.
Tower Street was closed for several hours after the incident involving the machine, which is used to drive building supports into the ground.
A HSE investigation found that the main contractor, Multibuild Ltd, was responsible for providing a stone platform for the machine to work from, but had failed to design or install it correctly.
Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering Ltd as a specialist sub-contractor had the responsibility for safely carrying out the work.
After the hearing HSE Inspector Dave Redman commented: "This incident could easily have resulted in disaster, and it is nothing short of a miracle that no one was killed or seriously injured given it occurred during the peak of the evening rush hour.
"It is every company's responsibility to ensure that employees and members of the public are not exposed to danger from heavy construction machinery."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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