Stiff fines for two companies after man is killed by 31 tonne beam.
Construction Enquirer is reporting that two UK companies have been fined a total of £130,000 after a 43-year-old demolition worker was killed by a big concrete beam in Thurrock.
Gary Drinkald was working on a night demolition job to tear down a road bridge on the A1306, near Lakeside Shopping Centre, on April 6 2006 when he was crushed.
A 31 tonne concrete beam had been removed from the bridge and placed on the back of a low loader lorry, but chains securing it were removed from the crane before it had been secured to the low loader.
The beam then fell and crushed Drinkald, breaking 17 ribs and causing internal bleeding, which led to his death.
The Health and Safety Executive successfully prosecuted Chelmsford demolition contractor Micor, which employed Drinkald, and Crane and Transport Services from Kent, which was subcontracted to supervise the lifting procedure.
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