The incident happened on Monday, September 29, during the disassembly of a gantry crane at the Green Park Way vent shaft in west London when a beam struck a crane basket containing two workers. Although no-one was physically injured, HS2 said it posed a serious risk to the those involved and a full investigation is now under way.
Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture (SCS JV), the main works civils contractor for the HS2 London Tunnels area, took the decision to suspend works following discussions with HS2 Ltd.
“SCS JV works have been brought to a safe stop across all sites and will remain halted while a full review of all safety procedures across this section of the route is carried out. Limited works including essential maintenance will continue,” HS2 said.
HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild saidsafety was “our number one priority at HS2”.
“Due to a serious incident, works have been safely halted across the London tunnels section of the route. While no workers were physically harmed, our contractor, Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture, is undertaking a comprehensive review of safety procedures and leadership on their sites before a safe restart can take place,” he said.
The London tunnels area is a 22.5km stretch from the approaches to Euston station through to the Copthall tunnel in Hillingdon. Most of this route is in twin-bore tunnels.
The Green Park Way site is where SCS JV lifted the four TBMs after completing excavation of the 13.5km-long Northolt twin tunnels between West Ruislip and the new station at Old Oak Common.
