Crane advice after fatal accident

Mr Swirzynski died from multiple injuries

Health and safety officials have written to crane hire and supply companies following the death of a worker at a site in Liverpool.

Zbigniew Roman Swirzynski, of Preston, was struck by a 2.4 tonne concrete counterweight that fell from the crane in Colquitt Street last year.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is advising crane operators of some initial findings of its investigation.

It also plans to liaise with European colleagues about current EU standards.

It will look into whether changes need to be made to prevent further accidents.

Mr Swirzynski died of multiple injuries and a coroner has recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The inquest heard how there was a "massive overload" which caused the crane to snap just below the driver's cab and collapse onto the building site, where an apartment block and underground car park were being constructed.

The HSE investigation is not complete, but it has issued the report to crane firms looking at technical aspects of the accident.

It is thought that a strong gust of wind blew the jib - the arm of the crane - upwards without setting off alarms in the crane's cab. Mr Swirzynski, originally from Poland, lived in Ingol, in Preston, Lancashire.