European Commission gave the green light to the US component manufacturer Precision Castparts Corporation's acquisition of the US titanium producer Timet. The Commission after an in depth investigation concluded that this transaction would not increase competition. The new merged entity would not increase prices because of the existence of long term supply agreements and original equipment manufacturers' bargaining power.
Under the Merger Regulation the Commission has the right to examine mergers and acquisitions between companies with a turnover above certain thresholds in order to prevent unfair competition. The Commission examined the impact of the transaction on the upstream markets of titanium mill and melted products and the downstream markets of titanium casted and forged components. The investigation showed the new merged entity would not not lead to an increase of prices in the downstream markets. The downstream markets and OEMs will be protected by the existing LTAs. OEMs have bargaining power and can ultimately certify competitors of the merged entity for the supply of titanium inputs.
Following the death of a man who was crushed by a 15 tonnes crane a West Midlands steel company has been ordered to pay more than EUR 146,000 in fines and costs.
Wilfred Williams was carrying out maintenance on an overhead travelling crane at C Brown & Sons Limited when the incident occurred on 27th May 2011.
The employee was working six and a half meters from the ground when he stepped from the gantry he was working on to sit down on the rail of an adjacent crane.
Mr Williams was crushed against an upright stanchion by a neighbouring crane that was moved by an operator who had not seen
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found Mr Williams and a fellow maintenance worker had accessed the cranes via a cherry picker and the second worker remained in the basket while Mr Williams stepped onto the rail of the crane he was fixing.
It was revealed that he was not wearing a harness there was no other fall protection and there was no safe system of work at height to prevent crush injuries or falls.
On Wednesday 19th December Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that an approved code of practice on working with lifting equipment makes specific reference to proximity hazards and states where anyone is working near the wheel tracks of an overhead crane the crane should not be allowed to approach within six meters of them if they would be liable to be struck by it.
The court also heard that no measures had been taken by the company to isolate the other cranes in the bay where work was taking place or in the adjacent bay. There was also nothing to prevent their approach to those working on the rails.
C Brown & Sons Limited was fined EUR 120,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and ordered to pay £26,552 in costs however no penalty was imposed for a separate breach of the work at height regulations 2005.
Ms Angela Gallagher Inspector of HSE said that This tragic incident which has had a devastating effect on Mr Williams's family was entirely preventable.
The requirement to prohibit cranes from approaching within six meters of any person working on or near the wheel tracks of the crane stretches back to the Factories Act 1961 yet the company failed to put in place sufficient measures to address this risk.
Documents show the company had been aware of the risks for some time. A system to prevent falls from height a line system whereby workers wearing a harness could clip onto the line was being considered and an order was about to be placed at the time of the incident. However the company had not put interim measures in place to prevent falls nor adequately assessed the risk of maintenance staff being crushed by moving cranes.
The risks of working at height especially around cranes, are very real and companies must have safe work procedures in place and train employees to use them. They must also have appropriate management systems in place to ensure they are followed."
