HC Deb 04 February 1992 vol 203 cc117-8W
Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when investigating the accident to a crane on 13 July 1991 at St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, following the discovery that the safe load indicator was defective due to the damaged crane, what other sources of information were sought to verify its condition when the crane was operational.

Mr. Forth

As part of the Health and Safety Executive's investigation to establish the condition of the safe load indicator on the crane immediately before the accident on 13 July 1991, the HSE inspector interviewed witnesses to the accident to determine whether the warning bell had been ringing when the crane began to overturn; obtained from the company a copy of the crane manufacturer's data sheet which describes the crane's main dimensions and lifting capacities; observed the engraved plastic cards in the crane cab which also describe the dimensions and capacities of the crane; examined the cam fitted in the automatic safe load indicator; obtained a copy of the last statutory examination of the machine by a competent person.