As part of its on-going investigation into the fatal incident at Canary Wharf in May, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has served an Improvement Notice. However, HSE wishes to make clear that the notice should not be seen as implying blame on the company for the accident, in which a crane collapsed and fell more than 100 metres with the two erectors and the crane driver.

HSE has taken action against the crane erection company, Hewden Tower Cranes Ltd. It applies to all the company's external climbing equipment available for use in the UK and orders the company to ensure that this equipment is examined by a 'competent' person by 6 July.

HSE is also approaching other companies to check that any external climbing equipment being used for tower cranes also satisfies the requirements for thorough examinations of lifting equipment, and say they will take equivalent enforcement action, if appropriate.

This will be backed up by a formal review of climbing arrangements for other types of tower crane and the limited accident history for climbing tower cranes. The review will consider the development of standards and guidance on safe practice for this type of work in the construction industry.

The contractors responsible for the site and the crane erection have co-operated fully in the conduct of the investigation, according to the HSE. The investigation, undertaken jointly with the Metropolitan Police, is expected to take some considerable time but a report will be published when the full facts are known.

Anna Lagerkvist