Overview of CIG/TCIG Open Meeting at Vertikal Days

Over 150 people attended an open meeting hosted by the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) at Vertikal Days at Newark Showground.

Assisted by CPA Training and Safety Manager Rob Squires, the open meeting was jointly organised by two of the CPA’s Special Interest Groups - namely the Crane Interest Group (CIG) which is chaired by Peter Gibbs, CEO of Ainscough Crane Hire and the Tower Crane Interest Group (TCIG) chaired by Dave Holder, European Operations Director of Wolffkran.

The open meeting afforded an opportunity to discuss key topics and issues affecting the crane sector, such as abnormal loads and embargoes, electrical supply issues and updated Network Rail guidance regarding the use of cranes beside railways.

Meeting attendees were warmly welcomed by Steve Mulholland who has recently been appointed CPA Chief Executive. Steve has a great deal of experience in the sector, having previously been the CPA Chair and a CPA Council Member for over 10 years. Steve, who formerly ran his family business Mulholland Plant Services, underlined his commitment to the CPA Special Interest Groups in his introduction.

TCIG Chair Dave Holder introduced Craig Hook who is a Specialist Consultant to the CPA with over 33 years’ of experience in construction, and 21 years’ experience in cranes and lifting, working for Sir Robert McAlpine. Craig delivered the first presentation of the day which related to tower crane electrical supply issues and a subsequent update to Technical Information Note (TIN 036).

Craig gave some background information as to why the guidance needed to be updated, whereby a Tower Crane Technician was working on a tower crane that had an electrical fault, but the Residual Current Device (RCD) had not tripped and the technician was injured. The RCD was the wrong type which had the wrong sensitivity to the fault current.

Craig explained that the use of variable-frequency drive-controlled motors on most tower cranes and construction hoists reduces starting currents and, consequently, the required capacity of the power supply – however they have special requirements of the type of RCD to be used.

The presentation underlined that most tower cranes and many hoists now use inverters to convert the incoming power supply from Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current (DC) so that the speed of motors is controlled accurately using frequency converters. This allows energy saving, speed regulation and motor speed accuracy along with low-speed high torque and stepless changes.

However, because the DC output from frequency converter is at such a high frequency, not all types of RCD will detect a fault. This is a factor in equipment within the tower crane circuits as well as in generators, resistor banks, regenerative braking, power storage and any other areas which also work in DC. Many tower crane OEMs are specifying type ‘B’ RCDs as these detect a fault that that has a high, smooth DC voltage content. Craig advised attendees to provide good earth bonding (electrical) and lightning protection as per the tower crane’s manufacturer requirements.

Craig’s second presentation of the day focused on guidance on the tendering, management and operations of tower cranes, and in particular the introduction of a new document, namely TCIG 2404 which is designed for use by tower crane suppliers and rental customers.

TCIG and CIG have sister documents supporting the tendering, management and operation of cranes, and to ensure that contracts start off from a clear understanding of needs and responsibilities, the new document makes clear what offers include and allows a standard assessment process. The overall aim is to standardise the questions asked by clients and to allow suppliers to prepare properly and demonstrate good practice.

The third presentation of the meeting was focused on updated guidance to Network Rail rules with regards to the use of cranes beside railways. Craig explained that Network Rail document CIV0063 Cranes and Plant Beside Railways had been updated and became operational on 7^th September 2024, following proactive conversations between Network Rail and industry.

Craig’s final presentation of the day was jointly delivered with CIG Chair Peter Gibbs and focused on guidance for ready for work checks on mobile and crawler cranes. New ready for work checks are being drafted following rare incidents whereby the crane has not been rigged correctly, either to the lift plan or to the manufacturer’s instructions, typically caused by an individual human error. The checklists will be designed to significantly reduce the probability of these ‘single point of failure’ incidents.

Craig underlined that whilst these additional ready for work checks reduce the probability of an incident, the responsibility still lies with the Appointed Person to ensure that the crane is correctly rigged prior to being put into service.

The final presentation of the open meeting focused on abnormal loads, embargoes and enforcement challenges. This was delivered by Chris Britton, Head of Operations Support at Ainscough Crane Hire and Vice Chair of the Heavy Transport Association (HTA).

Chris underlined that the enforcement focus on the crane sector over the past two years has been extremely frustrating, and that STGO legislation was desperate for revision, having first been introduced over 21 years ago. He referred to a small number of police forces deviating from the custom and practice set out and agreed in the 2010 ACPO Guidance on the Movement of Abnormal Loads.

The intention of the document was originally intended to give clear instruction to the police and crane operators, but Chris underlined that the activity of the police has been inconsistent, with 42 police forces around the country acting in different ways and abandoning the national guidance. Examples were provided where activity has been disproportionate, with movement notifications being interpreted differently force to force, and restrictive, with embargo times that are not uniform and introduced with no consultation or warning.

Chris quoted an example whereby in Greater Manchester Police it is acceptable to move up to a 5-axle crane in the embargo, yet in the West Midlands there is a total ban at peak times. Certain forces also count Scottish Bank Holidays when the movement is in the Midlands. The industry has also seen increased costs, whereby operator wages must be paid where they travel before and after embargos, and where police insist on escorting vehicles where previously there was no requirement or appetite to do so.

Chris went on to inform attendees about the industry working group which was established over a year ago. Known as the Abnormal Loads Group (ALG), the group was set up to form a collective voice to speak about abnormal loads, engage with key decision and policymakers and effect change through consultation with industry.

Through the political connections of the members of the ALG, there have been numerous meetings and open dialogue with individual Members of Parliament, government departments such as the Department for Transport and the Home Office, and the group has a voice in the House of Lords through Earl Atlee who has had a long career in abnormal loads and is a passionate advocate for industry. The group has been actively involved in the review and rewrite of proposed new guidance, focusing on the areas that require the most urgent change and clarity.

Chris concluded his engaging presentation by summarising the next steps and actions that are required and underway. He recognised the efforts made by Gwent Police, who have been  instrumental in the trial which is currently underway of the removal of embargoes for mobile cranes, across the tri force areas of Gwent, Dyfed Powys and South Wales. He also urged attendees to engage with their local Chamber of Commerce and MP’s to inform them of the issues faced, and praised the advice provided by the former senior traffic commissioner for the UK, Beverley Bell. Finally, Chris informed attendees about an important meeting being held on 6th November 2024 concerning the approval of the latest revision of the NPCC guidance.

The CIG/TCIG open meeting concluded with a talk by Marcus Gough, Chairman of the Heavy Transport Association and Director of Operations of Strate Logistics. Marcus reinforced the points made by Chris Britton and referred to the enormous collective efforts being made to try and implement guidance that is right for both industry and enforcement, promoting collaborative working and the highest road safety standards.