Company guilty over crane deaths

Mr Miles and Mr Boatman were preparing to dismantle the crane

A crane hire firm accused of breaching health and safety law after two men died has been found guilty.

Gary Miles, 37, and Steven Boatman, 45, from Berkshire, died in West Sussex when a tower crane collapsed in 2005.

They were working for Eurolift (Tower Cranes) Ltd, which was taken over by WD Bennett Plant & Services Ltd in 2003.

Hampshire-based Eurolift had already admitted two breaches of safety law. WD Bennett, based in Gloucestershire, was found guilty at Chichester Crown Court.

Judge William Wood ordered sentencing to be adjourned until a later date.

Jurors found WD Bennett guilty of failing to ensure the safety of persons not in its employment.

The firm was also found guilty of a second charge which said it failed to take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent the risk of persons becoming struck by falling objects.

'Management vacuum'

During the trial, the court heard WD Bennett took over Eurolift in 2003.

After the takeover, the companies continued to operate separately, with separate contracts, paperwork and bank accounts, but WD Bennett would regularly sub-contract work to Eurolift.

In 2004, WD Bennett was hired to provide, erect and dismantle two cranes at a building site at a special needs school in Durrington, jurors were told.

Mr Miles and Mr Boatman, both from Reading and employed by Eurolift, were expected to dismantle them in February 2005.

They fell to their deaths after a third worker, Dave Smith, who had no training and was unsupervised, mistakenly loosened the bolts of the 118ft (36m) tower crane, causing it to collapse, the jury was told.

Mr Smith suffered broken bones in the incident.

Jurors heard how Tony Ferris, who had co-founded Eurolift in 1996, was in charge of health and safety at the site. However, on the day of the accident he had called in sick with flu.

Prosecutor Nigel Lithman said it was WD Bennett's responsibility to manage health and safety in his absence.

He said that instead there was a management vacuum.

After the hearing, Mr Boatman's son, Ben, said his family, from Reading, was pleased with the verdicts.

"At least after four years we can close a door on it," he added.

Mr Miles' family, of Crowthorne, Berkshire, declined to comment.