Tower Crane Interest Group
TCIG continued with another busy and productive year under the initial chairmanship of Paul Phillips. Syd Appleyard of Select Plant Hire Co Ltd took over the chairmanship of TCIG in February 2008. TCIG held two Steering Committee meetings and an Open Meeting, but the bulk of the practical workload remains in the hands of the Ad Hoc Working Groups. These Working Groups have met several times during the year.
Work at Height (Unloading/Loading Transport):
Work at Height came into force on 6th April 2005, which, similar to LOLER, intended to bring various parts of legislation under one heading. The CPA formed a Working Group to examine the proportionality of risk to the expenditure of minimising or eliminating that risk. Other CPA Groups are also affected by this legislation including the Crane Interest Group (CIG), Construction Hoist Interest Group (CHIG), Powered Access Interest Group (PAIG) and the Rail Plant Association (RPA).
Work in any place from which a person could fall a distance and cause personal injury must be reduced and the aim in producing the guidance is to minimise the risk when unloading and loading transport. Both the HSE and the Construction Confederation (CC) are supporting the Best Practice Guidance being produced by the Working Group.
In the wake of recent Tower Crane accidents the Group has held a series of meetings with HSE and the Strategic Forum. The aim of the meetings was to discuss the production of the CPA Best Practice Guide for the Maintenance, Inspection and Thorough Examination of Tower Cranes. A Working Group was formed consisting of representatives from CPA, HSE, National Construction College (NCC) and SAFED to produce the guidance. The guide has been completed and was launched during the SED show in May 2008 via a series of workshops.
The Group has been working with the Strategic Forum for Construction (SFfC) Tower Crane Group. The Group (SFfC) was chaired by John Spanswick, Group Chairman of Bovis Lend Lease. With representation from the CPA TCIG, Construction Confederation (CC), HSE, the Major Contractors Group (MCG), National Construction College (NCC), Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group (BCDAC), Safety Assessment Federation (SAFED), United Crane Operator's Association (UCOA). From the initial meeting an Action Plan was devised with 7 agreed key objectives.
- Specific Site Inductions
- Individual Competency Standards
- Thorough Examination and Maintenance Regimes
- Operators Working Conditions
- Improve Communications on Site
- Information Sharing
- Improved Communication to the Public
The Group in conjunction with SFfC has completed their work and guidance has been produced in each area and published on the Strategic Forum website (www.strategicforum.org.uk). These objectives were completed at the end of 2008. The aim of the group is to monitor safety within the Tower crane industry.
The Group has been working on updating and producing new Technical Information Notes (TINs). The updated TINs are available free of charge on the CPA website (www.cpa.uk.net).
On behalf of the Group the CPA has been successful in obtaining some funding from ConstructionSkills towards the production of a Best Practice Guide for the Climbing of Tower Cranes. The work will commence in the New Year and will be completed by May 2009.
New Tower Crane Climbing Safety DVD
A new educational film that is an industry first in tackling the safer climbing of tower cranes now been launched. The film raises the awareness of safe practices which can avoid potential risks at all stages of tower crane climbing and aims at driving improvements across the industry to rule out incidents.
‘The Safe External Climbing of Tower Cranes' has been developed and produced jointly by Bovis Lend Lease and Select Plant Hire, working in partnership with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA). The film offers step by step practical advice through all stages of tower crane climbing, from planning stages through to onsite activities, including, identification of hazards, development of safe systems of work, and the essential checks to be carried out both during the planning and on site on the day.
The DVD compliments the Tower Crane Climbing Best Practice Guide currently under development by the CPA Tower Crane Interest Group which will be published later this year.
"The Safe External Climbing of Tower Cranes" is available on DVD, free of charge, from the CPA by contacting Louise Rider.
email: louise@cpa.uk.net or Telephone: 020 7796 3366.
Tower Crane Interest Group - Downloads
Maintenance, Inspection and Thorough Examination of Tower Cranes - CPA Best Practice Guide (TCIG 0801)
Download CPA Best Practice Guide >>
Tower Crane Operator's Handbook
Download Tower Crane Operator's Handbook >>
Best Practice Guide - Safe Use of Top Slew Tower Cranes (TCIG 0701)
Download Safe Use of Top Slew Tower Cranes >>
HSE Safety Alert on the Use of Tower Cranes
Download HSE Safety Alert >>
Safe Use of Self Erecting Tower Cranes - CPA Best Practice Guide Oct 2006
Download Safe Use of Self Erecting Tower Cranes >>
TCIG Supplementary Conditions
Tower Crane Technical Information Notes
000 Technical Information Note Index - Issue K - Download >>
001 Access to Tower Cranes After Commissioning - Issue B - Download >>
002 Raising and Lowering of Small Material - Issue B - Download >>
003 Tower Crane Access Procedures - Issue B - Download >>
004 Installing Wire Ropes on Winch Drums and Storage Reels - Issue B - Download >>
005 Housekeeping on Tower Cranes - Issue B - Download >>
006 Tower Crane Access Ladders - Issue B - Download >>
007 Duty Boards - Issue B - Download >>
008 Tower Crane Edge Protection - Issue B - Download >>
009 Security of Access to the Crane Base - Issue B - Download >>
010 Tower Crane Anti-Collision Systems - Issue B - Download >>
011 Attachment of Floodlights, Illuminated Signs and Christmas Decorations - Issue A - Download >>
012 Tower Crane Access Signage - Issue B - Download >>
013 Rescue of Personnel From Height on Tower Cranes - Issue D - Download >>
014 Pre-Erection Component Checks - Issue B - Download >>
015 Risk Assessment – General Access to Tower Cranes (including for maintenance) - Issue B - Download >>
016 Fall Protection Equipment For Tower Crane Operators - Issue C - Download >>
017 Radio Communication For Lifting Operations - Issue B - Download >>
018 Tower Crane Life - Issue B - Download >>
019 Contract Lifting and Crane Hire when Erecting, Dismantling and Using Tower Cranes on Construction Sites - Issue B - Download >>
020 The Effect of Wind on Tower Cranes In Service - Issue C - Download >>
021 Maintenance Principles for Tower Cranes - Issue B - Download >>
022 The Use of Tag Lines with Tower Cranes - Issue B - Download >>
023 Luffing Jib Tower Cranes - Information and Actions for Owners/Suppliers - Issue B - Download >>
024 Luffing Jib Tower Cranes - Precautions For Users - Issue B - Download >>
025 Luffing Jib Tower Cranes - Precautions for Operators Working at or near Minimum Radius in Strong Winds - Issue B - Download >>
026 Lifting Loads Using Fabric Bags - Issue A - Download >>
027 Tower Crane Out-of-Service Wind Speeds - Issue A - Download >>