Health and Safety

Executive

Tower crane safety

- the story so far

Laurence Golob, Construction Sector

A presentation to CONIAC, November 2009

 Background

• Recent history of high-profile incidents

– Canary Wharf, Battersea, Liverpool (x2),
Croydon, Worthing
– 8 deaths since 2000, including m.o.p.; other
life-changing injuries
• Political and public interest
– Work & Pensions SC
– DWP SoS
– Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group
Controlling/Managing the risks

• Package of measures, including:

 competence requirements for crane erectors and
dismantlers;
 consideration of the adequacy of crane design
standards;
 research into the effect of wind loading on cranes;
 research to improve our understanding of the
causes of crane incidents at an international level;
 promotion of the industry Safe Crane Campaign to
improve public confidence in crane safety; and
 tower crane register.
Competence requirements

• HSE & Strategic Forum for Construction

Plant Safety Group
– developed a matrix of competences:

o Planning;
o Erection and Dismantling Process;
o Operation;
o Maintenance;
o Thorough Examination.
– now agreeing implementation programme.
 Research
• effect of wind loading on cranes; 
• consideration of the adequacy of
crane design standards; 
• research to improve our
understanding of the causes of crane
incidents at an international level.
Public Confidence

• Safe Crane Campaign

• Tower crane register

FOD Construction Field Work

• the head offices of tower crane

operators visits
• inspector assessment of the use of
tower cranes on all relevant sites;
• HSE enforcement: e.g. Worthing
and Croydon