ILLAPG Publications
ILLAPG Meeeting Dates
The online meetings of the ILLAPG for 2024 are scheduled for:
Thursday 2nd May 2024 commencing 11.00am.
Thursday 27th June 2024 commencing 11.00am.
Thursday 22nd August 2024 commencing 11.00am.
Thursday 24th October 2024 commencing 11.00am.
To receive a link to the meeting, please contact Katie Kelleher at enquiries@illapg.com
About the ILLAPG
The Industry Lifting Lead AP Group (ILLAPG) was formed a number of years ago to bring together like minded people within the construction sector in order to encourage improved collaboration and co-ordination, aiding communication between working groups, associations, governing bodies, contractors, owners and suppliers.
The principle aim of the ILLAPG is to support industry on improvements and assistance to make lifting operations safer and more efficient through areas such as technical and training standards
The Group since its conception has grown rapidly, gathering more and more industry interests with a wider membership that includes those from contractors, manufacturers (crane & lifting accessories), crane companies, trainers, card schemes as well as AP’s from all levels of the industry.
CPA is providing a secretariat-level role to the group which also allows a harmonisation with the long-standing publications and safety work undertaken by the CPA's crane and tower crane interest groups.
The Groups current focus in on a 'Hands off - Step Away - Safe Space' campaign for which presentation slides and posters can be downloaded FoC below.
For more information on the ILLAPG, contact Katie Kelleher at enquiries@illapg.com
Accidents and incidents when lifting loads
Following several incidents with loads and people interaction – it was clear changes were needed at an industry level. This was further reinforced following an industry wide survey carried out by the ILLAPG in the Summer of 2022 following a tragic fatality during a slinging/signalling activity at Gatwick.
A slide presentation, which outlines a new national approach based on the title of 'Hands off - Step Away - Safe Space', has been produced by the ILLAPG working group and can be downloaded below. The aim is to reduce people / load interface incidents in the future.
Further information and resources on this subject will be posted throughout 2024 by the ILLAPG.
Key Message Poster
The ILLAPG are distributing a key message poster on safe load handling, devised by one of their members. This poster forms part of the wider campaign being undertaken by the ILLAPG, as above, on the topic of 'Hands off, Step Away, Safe Space' and part of a number of actions following the slinging/signalling fatality.
The poster can be downloaded below
Schedule of Common Lifts
The ILLAPG have produced a Schedule of Common Lifts publication, which has been produced to provide guidance on lifting methods for a number of loads frequently lifted on construction sites.
The schedule, published by NOCN, is designed to support both the training of lift planners on dedicated courses and further to provide additional guidance for the competent person planning or responsible for a lifting operation, supplement the information contained within a lift plan.
The group are keen to stress however that the publication highlights good practice but is not, and nor is it intended to be, a substitute for appropriate lift planning by a competent person and remind the industry that all lifting operations must carried out in compliance with LOLER 1998 and the relevant standards e.g. BS 7121. The Schedule for Common Lifts publication can be downloaded free of charge below.
CAA Airfield Crane Notification System
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the aviation regulator, has introduced a new notification system to help the construction industry in notifying airspace users of cranes above a specified height. Their Airspace Co-ordination Obstacle Management Service (ACOMS) portal will help those planning flights and drone activity to assess any risks and plan appropriately. In essence, notification is required if a crane is:
- to be used within 6 Km of the aerodrome/airfield and its height exceeds 10 metres Above Ground Level (AGL) or that of surrounding structures or trees, if higher, or;
- is to be operated at or above a height of 100 metres AGL regardless of location or height of surrounding structures.
The CAA recommends using ACOMS at least eight weeks before the erection of the crane, however, as the CAA recognises that there are times when very little notice is given to the crane user, additional notification timescales have been created as follows:
PLANNED LONG-TERM PROJECTS: Notification to be sent to the CAA at least eight weeks (40 working days) before the erection of the crane. The CAA will then identify parties that may be affected by the crane and inform the crane user and affected parties about the next steps.
AD-HOC PROJECTS: Notification to be sent to the CAA not later than 5 working days in advance. The CAA will then identify parties that may be affected by the crane and inform the crane user and the affected parties about the next steps.
UNFORESEEN AND URGENT PROJECTS: If there is an unforeseen and urgent requirement to erect a crane within 5 working days from the notification, the crane user is required to contact all aerodromes whose perimeters are within 10 Nautical Miles (NM) (18.5 km) of the crane and submit the notification via ACOMS as soon as possible and advise which aerodrome operators have been contacted and the reason for less than 5 working days’ notice.
Where cranes are to be in situ for more than 90 days, before the crane is erected, users must also notify:
- the CAA by the ACOMS Service, and;
- the Defence Geographic Centre (DGC)
The lighting requirements are the same as previous CPA communications, being:
- Above 150 metres - must be illuminated with 2000 candela;
- Within 6 Km of aerodrome as dictated by aerodrome operator;
- 45 metres to 150 metres - recommend 2000 candela;
- Less than 45m - recommend 32 candela.
If the crane is within the vicinity of an aerodrome AND 100m or higher above ground level, users need to notify both the aerodrome and the CAA via ACOMS. If the crane is in the vicinity of an aerodrome AND 100m or higher above ground level AND in situ for more than 90 days, you need to notify the aerodrome, the CAA and the DGC, as described above.
It is the hirer of the crane (principal or other contractor) who is ultimately responsible for notifying relevant aerodromes and the lighting of the crane. Crane suppliers should ensure that hirers are aware of this requirement.
The CAP 1096 publication - Guidance to Crane Users is in the process of being revised and CAA advise that at least three-months notice will be provided prior to the full implementation of CAP 1096. More information on ACOMs and other notification requirements and how to register to submit notifications is at: https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-industry/Airspace/Event-and-obstacle-notification/Crane-notification/