16.07.2010

Best Practice Guides online

The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) Best Practice Guidance (BPGs) to the Safe Use of Lorry Loaders and the Maintenance, Inspection and Thorough Examination of Mobile Cranes are now online and available to read or download.

The BPGs are intended to provide clarity on the obligations of the machine owner and customer, thereby improving site safety and minimising injuries or fatalities to those working on or near these machines.

The BPGs are straightforward, comprehensive and can be easily adopted by organisations to their daily routines. They have been prepared by the industries concerned and have been endorsed and ‘badged’ by the UK’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

To go direct to the Loader Crane BPG Click Here
For the Maintenance of Mobile Cranes BPGlink[/uploads/tx_filelinks/Maintenance-and-thorough-examination-of-mobile-cranes_01.pdf]( Click here)

Philip White, HM chief inspector of construction at the HSE, and chairman of CONIAC said:

“In recent years lorry loaders have developed significantly, to the stage where they are able to carry out many of the tasks traditionally undertaken out by mobile and tower cranes. When used they safely make a valuable contribution to the carrying out of lifting operations, however it should not be forgotten that all lifting operations must be planned and executed to the same standard, irrespective of the type of lifting equipment being used.”

He went on to discuss the benefits which mobile cranes bring to the industry.

“The construction industry relies on the use of mobile cranes to move materials on sometimes small, confined sites. Mobile cranes are an essential part of the construction process and can help resolve some of the safety problems on site arising from space constraints.

This guidance has been prepared to provide clarity about the practical elements of maintenance, inspection and thorough examination. The guidance is simple but comprehensive and easy to adopt. It represents best practice for mobile cranes used in the construction industry and is equally applicable to all mobile crane use across all industry sectors.”