Select Plant revamps after Croydon crane collapse

Select Plant has implemented a 16-point safety improvement plan after being hit with a £100,000 fine after part of a crane collapsed into a South London hotel causing £4.8m worth of damage.

The top of a tower crane fell into the Croydon Park Hotel in June 2007 leaving its operator hanging through the roof of one of the rooms.

John Young, 39, suffered a fractured skull and spine and has been unable to return to work since the accident.

The Old Bailey heard last week that Young, of Newhaven, East Sussex, was in a body brace for 10 weeks following the accident in which the top of the crane toppled backwards almost 61m above the ground.

The incident happened during a relatively rare operation to extend the height of the tower crane from 60m to 98m, using a piece of equipment known as a climbing frame.

The team employed to extend the height of the crane had not used the equipment before and had not had any specific training on its use.

The court heard that immediately after the incident Select revamped its safety systems. A tower crane training centre has been set up in St Neots, Cambridgeshire and all workers are issued with a safety DVD.

A performance manager and "business assurance leader" have also been appointed to oversee safety standards while all staff are issued with handbooks and their training is recorded on a computerised "safety matrix".

A Select Plant spokesperson said: "The company is committed to ensuring safety on all its sites and deeply regrets the circumstances which led to this isolated incident.

"We wish all those involved in the accident a full recovery and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones who have all been caught up in this dreadful event.

"Lessons have been learned from this, long before today's case, and a thorough review undertaken of all crane procedures to ensure nothing like this can happen again."