Coroner to highlight 'need to revise European safety standards'

A Liverpool coroner is to write to Lord McKenzie to bring to his attention possible flaws in the safety standards of cranes following the death of a Polish employee on a Liverpool construction site last year.

According to reports, Andre Rebello will contact the parliamentary secretary of state for work and pensions following the incident which killed migrant worker Znigniew Swirzynski.

In January 2007 the 39-metre high crane was lifting a light load when a short gust of wind blew back the jib of the crane causing the 18mm steel rope to come off the pulley and become tangled.

Liverpool's coroner court was told how the machine was fitted with an alarm designed to sound when wind speed surpasses the safe operating level of 70mph for more than three seconds.

Witnesses claim no alarm sounded and that the gust of wind which triggered the incident lasted for around one second but reached speeds of 82mph.

The crane driver was unaware of the tangled rope and as he tried to lower the crane the jib collapsed, pulling the tower down and sending five 2.5 tonne concrete counterweights to the ground.

One of these concrete weights hit Mr Swirzynski and killed him instantly.

Recently, Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group expressed its anger at the government's decision to reject calls for a national register for tower cranes.