6/5/2008Terror as yard crane breaks and falls
By Jack Cuthbertson
A MAJOR investigation is under way after an 80-tonne crane snapped at a Glasgow shipyard.
One worker was slightly injured and two others were treated for shock following the incident at the BAE Systems yard at Govan.
Officials from the Health and Safety Executive have been to the scene of the incident and have launched a probe.
The injured man, a shipwright, was taken to nearby Southern General Hospital, while the crane operator and another shipwright were treated on the spot for shock.
The accident happened at around 8am yesterday (Monday May 5) at the yard which has around 1500 staff.
One eye witness said: "I heard a loud bang and then I saw the crane collapsing. It just snapped in half."
The immediate area around the crane, which had recently passed a safety inspection, was sealed off yesterday as a precaution.
A BAE Systems spokeswoman said: "The jib snapped after being lowered but none of the employees involved have been seriously injured.
"The crane passed its annual statutory inspection in March and the cause of the incident is being investigated."
One worker was slightly injured and two others were treated for shock following the incident at the BAE Systems yard at Govan.
Officials from the Health and Safety Executive have been to the scene of the incident and have launched a probe.
The injured man, a shipwright, was taken to nearby Southern General Hospital, while the crane operator and another shipwright were treated on the spot for shock.
The accident happened at around 8am yesterday (Monday May 5) at the yard which has around 1500 staff.
One eye witness said: "I heard a loud bang and then I saw the crane collapsing. It just snapped in half."
The immediate area around the crane, which had recently passed a safety inspection, was sealed off yesterday as a precaution.
A BAE Systems spokeswoman said: "The jib snapped after being lowered but none of the employees involved have been seriously injured.
"The crane passed its annual statutory inspection in March and the cause of the incident is being investigated."
By Jack Cuthbertson