A man died after being hit by a falling object at a construction site in Hackney, east London on Tuesday afternoon.
The residential project, on East Road, Hoxton, was surrounded by hoardings from HCL Group, a West London-based groundworks specialist.
Emergency services were called to the site around 1.20pm on 21 December, with an air ambulance being deployed for a speedy response.
“Sadly, despite best efforts of emergency service colleagues, a person died at the scene,” a spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said.
Metropolitan Police officers were called by ambulance crews. A spokesperson for the force said: “A man was reported to have been struck by a falling object. The injured man did not survive his injuries and died at the scene.” His next of kin have been informed.
According to Hackney Council planning documents, the site is set to become an eight storey residential building with a basement. The project, called Hoxton Lofts, will feature eight apartments and has been designed by Heli Architects.
When a Construction News reporter arrived at the location this morning, the junction of East Road, Vestrey Street and Nile Street remained closed to traffic. Crane equipment had been moved to the outside of the site hoardings. There was no construction work taking place and three Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors could be seen carrying out activities, while two police officers were also present.
An HSE spokesperson said it has opened an investigation into the incident.
National media has reported claims that the 32-year-old was hit by a steel girder falling from a crane. When phoned about the incident, a spokesperson for Nationwide Lifting, whose equipment was among that being used on site said he could not comment on the incident, but added: “It’s widely reported that a load fell from a crane but that is incorrect.”
HCL Group has been contacted for comment.
https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/health-and-safety/worker-dies-on-london-construction-site-22-12-2021/
