A LARGE steel beam was dropped by a crane near workers at Staythorpe power station, union officials were told today.

Phil Davies, GMB national officer for the engineering construction industry, was given details of the "serious health and safety incident" involving a crane at the site on Monday, June 1.

This followed another incident on the same site, near Newark, involving contractor, Alstom, on May 14.

Mr Davies was told about the incidents by GMB shop stewards ahead of talks in London with the engineering construction employers.

The talks were on the review of the national agreement covering large infrastructure sites.

GMB claims it should be able to determine that bidders for such work are able to meet the requirements of the National Agreement on pay and conditions, before tenders are awarded.

The Central Executive Council of GMB has already given the authority for an official strike ballot in the industry if the employers do not agree to these arrangements.

Mr Davies said: "Alstom promised corrective action after May 14 to prevent a reoccurrence. What ever Alstom did then was not good enough.

"The Health and Safety Executive need to come in to this site and satisfy themselves that those undertaking the lifting on site have the necessary competence to undertake this work safely. Unless decisive action is taken someone will be killed."

An Alstom spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a column, which was part of a soundproofing structure, weighing approximately a third of a tonne fell to the ground from a height of about a metre and a half (just under five feet) while being moved at the Staythorpe power station construction site on Monday, June 1.

"No one was injured and, in line with established health and safety procedures, all lifting was suspended while a full investigation into this incident was carried out.

"The findings of our investigation into a previous incident at the site, on May 14, which involved lifting at height by a crane, have been presented to the Health & Safety Executive.

"The HSE has told Alstom that it is satisfied with the full background briefing we provided on that incident and also with the corrective action that the company has taken as a result."