Crane supplier cleared over three deaths, seven years after tragedy

A crane supplier has been cleared of health and safety breaches, seven-and-a-half years after three of its employees died at a construction site.

Falcon Tower Crane Services was found not guilty of two counts of breaching the law at Chester Crown Court last week.

Rhys Barker, 18, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, David Newall, 36, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, and David Webb, 43, from Northampton died following the crane collapse at a Seddon site on Dunwoody Way, Crewe, Cheshire, in June 2017.

Barker and Newall were crane erectors, while Webb (pictured) worked as an electrician. Seddon was building an 84-bed care home at the time.

A six-year investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concluded last year and charges were brought against Norfolk-headquartered Falcon Tower Crane Services under Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

An HSE spokesperson said that during the trial it became clear the evidence would no longer be sufficient to meet the legal test for Crown Prosecutors.

He added: “As a result, the judge directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty.

“This was a long and complex investigation, and our thoughts remain with the families of the three men who lost their lives on 21 June 2017.”

A Falcon Tower Crane Services spokesperson said the company, including management and staff, had been “deeply affected” by the incident.

“The company has done all it can to provide support to the families of those who suffered, with our thoughts remaining with them at all times.

“The incident occurred seven-and-a-half years ago and the company throughout this long investigation has co-operated fully with all authorities.”

He added that the firm was “extremely disappointed that the HSE chose to prosecute the company” , but was satisfied with the decision of the trial.

“Our thoughts remain with the families of those who have suffered,” he said.

Across all the sectors it regulates, it takes the HSE more than a year to investigate around one-in-five fatal incidents.

Last year, Construction News examined how such cases left families in limbo and the industry waiting to find out what safety lessons should be learnt and applied.