HC Deb 20 November 1991 vol 199 cc214-5W
Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 413, whether the crane driver was interviewed following the accident to a crane at St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly on 13 July 1991; what observations he made; whether the safe load indicator was operating correctly at the time of the accident; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector who investigated the accident on 13 July 1991 at St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, did not interview the crane driver. HSE therefore has no information concerning his observations.

The inspector found that the warning bell circuit of the safe load indicator was operational at the time of his visit. However he was unable to establish whether the entire system was operational at the time of the incident, because of the damage the crane sustained when it overturned and the loss of part of the jib during the dismantling operation to make the crane safe.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 413, concerning the accident at St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, on 13 July 1991, what load it was thought was being lifted by the crane involved; and what was the actual weight lifted in tonnes.

Mr. Jackson

It was thought that the container lifted by the crane involved in the accident at St. Mary's on 13 July weighed 4 tonnes or less. The actual weight of the container lifted was later found to be 4.3 tonnes.