Battersea crane collapse may never get full report

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) may never compile a full report into the Battersea crane disaster, which killed two people last September.

An interim technical analysis of the collapsed crane has been completed by HSE scientists at its laboratory in Buxton, Derbyshire.

But safety chiefs are not committing themselves to issuing a full report into the accident.

Industry observers had anticipated a detailed analysis along the lines of the Canary Wharf crane collapse report into the death of three workers in May 2000.

An HSE spokesman said: "There shouldn't be an automatic assumption that there will be a report. They are very much the exception rather than the rule when it comes to construction fatalities."

The authorities are planning to meet with the bereaved families later this month around the anniversary of the accident on 26 September.

It is believed they will be updated on the current status of the investigation into the deaths of Michael Alexa and crane driver Jonathan Cloke.

The probe is still being led by the Metropolitan Police and the HSE is restricted on what details it can make public because no decision has been taken about a possible prosecution.

The HSE spokesman said: "The technical part is complete, but that is only part of the investigation.

"If information comes to light from that technical report which we think needs broadcasting, then we wouldn't necessarily wait until the end of the investigation process to do that.

"We will be keeping in touch with the bereaved families and letting them know what is going on.

"A full report couldn't be released until after a prosecution or decision to make one if it is not prejudicial. But there may not be a report."

The probe into the Canary Wharf crane collapse lasted five years until a final report highlighted human error as the cause.

Michael Alexa's mother Liliana said: "It's now nearly a year since the Battersea crane collapse. We want to see the HSE's investigation concluded as quickly as possible. We won't be able to rest until we know the reasons for the crane collapse."