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 the planning and on site on the day.The DVD compliments the Tower Crane Climbing Best hazards, development of safe systems of work, and the essential checks to be carried out both during 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. |
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Tower Crane Interest Group - Downloads
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CPA Best Practice Guide - Maintenance, Inspection and Thorough Examination of Tower Cranes (TCIG 0801) The purpose of this Guide is to set out, in clear and concise terms, Best Practice for meeting legal requirements. The document is in two sections - Maintenance, and Thorough Examination, to emphasise that these are separate activities. It is aimed at tower crane owners, and those managing and carrying out the maintenance and thorough examination. However, the document will also be of benefit to other groups such as tower crane users. Click on the Picture to Download TCIG 0801 >> |
CPA Best Practice Guide - Safe Use of Top Slew Tower Cranes (TCIG 0701)
This guide covers the whole of the lifting operation from the tower crane user's perspective. It sets out to provide guidance in an easily assimilated form, paying particular attention to the duties of the whole lifting team, the hazards involved in tower crane operation and precautions to be taken if accidents are to be avoided. Click on the Picture to Download TCIG 0701 >> |
CPA Best Practice Guide - Safe Use of Self Erecting Tower Cranes (TCIG 0601) - May 2010
The management of the installation and use of SETCs follows the same principles as other tower cranes. The purpose of this Guide is to provide guidance on the safe siting, erection, use, maintenance, thorough examination and dismantling of SETCs, together with the management and planning of these activities. Also applies to truck mounted tower cranes. Click on the Picture to Download TCIG 0601 >> |
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TCIG Supplementary ConditionsDownload TCIG Supplementary Conditions >> |
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| Tower Crane Operator's Handbook Download Tower Crane Operator's Handbook >> |
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HSE Safety Alert on the Use of Tower Cranes
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Tower Crane Technical Information Notes
| TIN No. | Title | Issue | |
| 000 | Technical Information Note Index | M | Download >> |
| 001 | Access to Tower Cranes After Commissioning | B | Download >> |
| 002 | Raising and Lowering of Small Material | B | Download >> |
| 003 | Tower Crane Access Procedures | B | Download >> |
| 004 | Installing Wire Ropes on Winch Drums and Storage Reels | B | Download >> |
| 005 | Housekeeping on Tower Cranes | B | Download >> |
| 006 | Tower Crane Access Ladders | B | Download >> |
| 007 | Duty Boards | B | Download >> |
| 008 | Tower Crane Edge Protection | B | Download >> |
| 009 | Security of Access to the Crane Base | B | Download >> |
| 010 | Tower Crane Anti-Collision Systems | B | Download >> |
| 011 | Attachment of Floodlights, Illuminated Signs and Christmas Decorations | A | Download >> |
| 012 | Tower Crane Access Signage | B | Download >> |
| 013 | Rescue of Personnel From Height on Tower Cranes | F | Download >> |
| 014 | Pre-Erection Component Checks | B | Download >> |
| 015 | Risk Assessment – General Access to Tower Cranes (including for maintenance) | B | Download >> |
| 016 | Fall Protection Equipment For Tower Crane Operators | C | Download >> |
| 017 | Radio Communication For Lifting Operations | B | Download >> |
| 018 | Tower Crane Life | B | Download >> |
| 019 | Contract Lifting and Crane Hire when Erecting, Dismantling and Using Tower Cranes on Construction Sites | B | Download >> |
| 020 | The Effect of Wind on Tower Cranes In Service | C | Download >> |
| 021 | Maintenance Principles for Tower Cranes | B | Download >> |
| 022 | The Use of Tag Lines with Tower Cranes | B | Download >> |
| 023 | Luffing Jib Tower Cranes - Information and Actions for Owners/Suppliers | B | Download >> |
| 024 | Luffing Jib Tower Cranes - Precautions For Users | B | Download >> |
| 025 | Luffing Jib Tower Cranes - Precautions for Operators Working at or near Minimum Radius in Strong Winds | B | Download >> |
| 026 | Lifting Loads Using Fabric Bags | A | Download >> |
| 027 | Tower Crane Out-of-Service Wind Speeds | A | Download >> |
| 028 | Lifting of Mechanical Plant On Drip Trays | B | Download >> |
| 029 | Repair and Reprogramming of Inverters | A | Download >> |