§ 67. Mr. THORNEasked the Home Secretary whether he has any information concerning the death of a man at Camberwell, caused through a fall of 987 girders from a crane; and whether he has satisfied himself that safety precautions were taken in this case and that the crane was periodically inspected?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have received a report from the Factory Inspector who attended the inquest. It shows that the premises in question had formerly been used as a factory, but had ceased to be used as such for some months previously, owing to the firm closing down, and were no longer under the Factory Act. The crane was being used for dismantling the machinery and the accident arose through a fracture of one end of a beam supporting the crane which, through exposure to the weather, has rotted. It would seem from the evidence at the inquest that no adequate precautions were taken but there are no Regulations governing the use of cranes in such circumstances, and I am advised that the Factory Department have no power to take any further action in the case.