Crane safety: sites to issue 'Safe to Use' public statements

The Strategic Forum is seeking the inclusion of a ‘Safe to Use’ public statement covering tower crane activities on sites registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme. The move is part of a short term action plan agreed at the Forum’s meeting on tower crane safety and is designed to counter the public’s perception that tower cranes are dangerous following a spate of accidents over the past year.

As indicated in this week’s Contract Journal, the Forum has set up working groups that will report by the end of February prior to the next meeting in April.

The Construction Plant-hire Association's (CPA) Tower Crane Interest Group and SAFed will work together on comprehensive Best Practice guidance for the maintenance and thorough examinations of tower cranes. This group will be chaired by the CPA’s Tim Watson.

Another working group on site induction chaired by Ian Watson of Bovis Lend Lease will look at developing a simplifying induction template for those involved in lifting operations.

Andy Newell of ConstructionSkills will lead the competency working group in mapping and analysing competency and training schemes for those involved in planning, managing and operating tower crane lifts. It may recommend changes.

Clear standards and guidelines on operator working conditions will be drawn up by a working group chaired by Shelley Atkinson-Frost, of the Construction Confederation. 

On-site communication will be examined in conjunction with the Forum’s existing worker engagement working group with the aim of ensuring ensure effective site communication to workers.

In a wider move, Forum members agreed to collate and share information and learning outcomes on fatal and major incidents and also near hit incidents which could have resulted in major injury.