UK contractor and civil engineer Sir Robert McAlpine has taken three Potain luffing jib tower cranes - an MR 418 and two MR 22 As - for the construction of the 170 metre 2 Finsbury Avenue development in London's financial district scheduled for completion in 2027.
Due to the confined site conditions in the densely populated area, the MR 418 has been installed on a specially designed cantilever suspended platform mounted on vertical legs that connect to the building's piles. The two MR 225 A units are positioned on the 13th and 15th floors of the structure.
The MR 418 on the specially designed suspended platform
The 24 tonne capacity MR 418 is configured with a 50 metre jib, while the 14 tonne capacity MR 225 A cranes are working with 45 and 50 metre jibs. All three cranes arrived last year and are due to remain on site at least through mid year, handling steel components and mechanical, electrical and plumbing elements for the roof.
The MR 418 is equipped with Potain's Cab-In operator elevator system - the first time the contractor has employed this feature - providing access to the operator cab at the 150 metre tower height.
Commercial plant manager Steve Wright said: "Our planning began in 2021, owing to the complexity of this development. The design included specialised crane bases and non standard anchorage solutions, and the developer was confident it would deliver the best result. We selected Potain luffing jib tower cranes for their strong lifting capacities and fast operation, which are crucial for a project of this scale. Our team ran several scenario plans to find the right combination for handling heavy loads in limited space. Their out of service radii also provided the flexibility needed in this tight setting.”
Positioned above the pedestrian walk way and road
Lead design engineer Jako Van der Walt added: "I would say this is one of the most complex projects our team has worked on, but developing the solution was a great engineering achievement. We received excellent support from Manitowoc Lift Solutions to create the desired crane bases and ensure we could properly tie off to the building where needed."
o
FAO Neil Martin esq
Chief Executive Officer
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead. HP2 7TR.
Good Morning Mr Martin,
The MR.418a Tower Crane is an excellent machine and engineered to a very high standard. So in the absence of your Risk Assessment, please accept mine in line with the statutory obligation arising from Regulation 3(1) (a) and (b) of The Management (HSW) Regulations 1999.
This Risk Assessment follows the normal 5 x step procedure.
1. What is the Hazard and who is at Risk from it ?
2. What is the Possibility and Probability of that Hazard injuring Persons ?
3. What is the most likely consequential outcome of that Possibility & Probability ?
The start point is to do the Maths, because here we have a Steel Structure erected more that 175 metres high over the heads of the Persons passing underneath on a public street, with the Mfrs spec sheet detailing all component weights including Mast, Jib and Ballast Blocks etc all calculated to be in excess of 150 tonnes plus the unknown weight of that Fabricated Cantilever Platform.
This then leads into the second part of the Risk Assessment that is to be ‘Suitable and Sufficient' one must first ask the following critically important questions regarding Public Safety….
4. The Hazard is indeed the risk of Crushing caused by Falling Steel Components or part of the Structure itself.
5. The Persons at risk from this Hazard are Employees and Persons Passing-by on the Public Street and Footpath below your Elevated Luffing Tower Crane.
6. The Consequences of this Hazard are most likely Personal and Possibly Fatal Injury to all Persons passing underneath this Crane.
Therefore given that I have researched 1637 Crane and Lifting Incidents Worldwide over the past 18yrs, all of which led to 920 Fatalities since Monday 7th May 2007. I can confirm that 345 of those incidents Involved Tower Cranes, with some spectacular failures including total collapse.
For example:- the loss of the Luffing Tower Crane Jib falling from the 31st floor more than 100 metres high onto the Metro Station in Taichung, Taiwan killing Professor Sue Lau and injuring many more train passengers on Wed 10th May 2023.
This then leads into the most important part, which is what Control Measures can be activated to reduce the Risk of this hazard injuring persons on the street below.
7. Set up a Crane Exclusion Zone with the Radius matching the Jib Length.
8. Apply CPA Tower Crane guidance note TIN.032 on how to reduce the Risk of Falling Objects from a Height.
9. Apply the HSE principle known as ERIC and close that Street to all Pedestrians and all Motor Traffic.
10. Issue a NOTAM and fit Red Lights to warn Helicopter Pilots of a High Level Obstruction at 175 metres altitude. Thus avoiding any repeat of the Fatal Helicopter Crash into Tower Crane incident in Vauxhall, London on 16th Jan 2013.
Mr Martin, please draw your own conclusions and take whatever steps you as CEO think necessary to protect the Public on this London street below your 150t Crane... and in the process protect your companies excellent reputation ?
o
FAO Neil Martin esq
Chief Executive Officer
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead. HP2 7TR.
Good Morning Mr Martin,
Second polite request for you to please publish your Risk Assessment for this
Unusual and Assymetric Tower Crane Support base depicted above, which was erected recently over a Public Footpath and Street in London.
That is your RAMS please, in line with the statutory obligations arising from….
Regulation 3(1)(b) of The Management (HSW) Regulations 1999.
o
FAO Neil Martin esq
Chief Executive Officer
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead
Herts HP2 7TR.
Good Morning Mr Martin,
Please publish your Risk Assessment for this Unusual and Assymetric Tower Crane
Support base depicted above, which was recently erected over a Public Street and Footpath in London.
That is your RAMS please, in line with the statutory obligations arising from….
Regulation 3(1)(b) of The Management (HSW) Regulations 1999.
o
FAO Neil Martin esq
Chief Executive Officer
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead. HP2 7TR.
Good Morning Mr Martin,
The MR.418a Tower Crane is an excellent machine and engineered to a very high standard. So in the absence of your Risk Assessment, please accept mine in line with the statutory obligation arising from Regulation 3(1) (a) and (b) of The Management (HSW) Regulations 1999.
This Risk Assessment follows the normal 5 x step procedure.
1. What is the Hazard and who is at Risk from it ?
2. What is the Possibility and Probability of that Hazard injuring Persons ?
3. What is the most likely consequential outcome of that Possibility & Probability ?
The start point is to do the Maths, because here we have a Steel Structure erected more that 175 metres high over the heads of the Persons passing underneath on a public street, with the Mfrs spec sheet detailing all component weights including Mast, Jib and Ballast Blocks etc all calculated to be in excess of 150 tonnes plus the unknown weight of that Fabricated Cantilever Platform.
This then leads into the second part of the Risk Assessment that is to be ‘Suitable and Sufficient' one must first ask the following critically important questions regarding Public Safety….
4. The Hazard is indeed the risk of Crushing caused by Falling Steel Components or part of the Structure itself.
5. The Persons at risk from this Hazard are Employees and Persons Passing-by on the Public Street and Footpath below your Elevated Luffing Tower Crane.
6. The Consequences of this Hazard are most likely Personal and Possibly Fatal Injury to all Persons passing underneath this Crane.
Therefore given that I have researched 1637 Crane and Lifting Incidents Worldwide over the past 18yrs, all of which led to 920 Fatalities since Monday 7th May 2007. I can confirm that 345 of those incidents Involved Tower Cranes, with some spectacular failures including total collapse.
For example:- the loss of the Luffing Tower Crane Jib falling from the 31st floor more than 100 metres high onto the Metro Station in Taichung, Taiwan killing Professor Sue Lau and injuring many more train passengers on Wed 10th May 2023.
This then leads into the most important part, which is what Control Measures can be activated to reduce the Risk of this hazard injuring persons on the street below.
7. Set up a Crane Exclusion Zone with the Radius matching the Jib Length.
8. Apply CPA Tower Crane guidance note TIN.032 on how to reduce the Risk of Falling Objects from a Height.
9. Apply the HSE principle known as ERIC and close that Street to all Pedestrians and all Motor Traffic.
10. Issue a NOTAM and fit Red Lights to warn Helicopter Pilots of a High Level Obstruction at 175 metres altitude. Thus avoiding any repeat of the Fatal Helicopter Crash into Tower Crane incident in Vauxhall, London on 16th Jan 2013.
Mr Martin, please draw your own conclusions and take whatever steps you as CEO think necessary to protect the Public on this London street below your 150t Crane... and in the process protect your companies excellent reputation ?
Thank you and Kindest Regards
Mike J. Ponsonby
o
FAO Neil Martin esq
Chief Executive Officer
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead. HP2 7TR.
Good Morning Mr Martin,
Second polite request for you to please publish your Risk Assessment for this
Unusual and Assymetric Tower Crane Support base depicted above, which was erected recently over a Public Footpath and Street in London.
That is your RAMS please, in line with the statutory obligations arising from….
Regulation 3(1)(b) of The Management (HSW) Regulations 1999.
Thank you and Kindest Regards
Mike J. Ponsonby
Harry Sharp
Mike. If you were to get a copy of the RAMS what would you do with it?
o
FAO Neil Martin esq
Chief Executive Officer
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead
Herts HP2 7TR.
Good Morning Mr Martin,
Please publish your Risk Assessment for this Unusual and Assymetric Tower Crane
Support base depicted above, which was recently erected over a Public Street and Footpath in London.
That is your RAMS please, in line with the statutory obligations arising from….
Regulation 3(1)(b) of The Management (HSW) Regulations 1999.
Thank you and Kindest Regards
Mike J. Ponsonby