19.03.2012

CPA moves towards MoT for cranes

The UK crane association, the CPA, says that in principle, it is in favour of an annual roadworthiness test for mobile cranes.

In a letter sent to all crane member companies yesterday, the association draws attention to the current legal requirements for crane owners to maintain equipment in a safe state, both on-site and on-road.

It then reports on a recent CPA crane interest group steering committee meeting at which the removal of the current crane exemption was discussed. The members were, in principle, in favour of an annual roadworthiness test as it is seen as a benefit for reducing road accidents involving cranes. However they strongly believe that an extensive transition period is required, particularly for cranes over 50 tonnes, in order to provide time for appropriately sized testing facilities to be provided around the country.

The decision comes after a Scottish judge and a member of parliament called on the government to legislate, following a fatal road accident in which a mother and her two daughters died when their car skidded on hydraulic oil deposited by a poorly maintained crane.

The full text of the letter is as follows:

19th March 2012

Dear Member,

Maintenance of Mobile Crane Road-going Chassis
You will be aware that over the last few years there have been a number of road traffic accidents, including some fatalities, where mobile cranes have been involved. One of these involved the death of a mother and her two children.

In the light of this we would like to remind all our mobile crane owning members that they have a legal duty to maintain all parts of their cranes in a safe condition at all times.
This is required by two sets of regulations:-

• When the crane is being used off the public highway adequate maintenance is required by Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

• When the crane is being driven on the public highway, Regulation 100 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations requires that mobile crane chassis are maintained so ".....that no danger is caused or is likely to be caused to any person in or on the vehicle or on a road.”

Further guidance on mobile crane maintenance is given in the CPA Best Practice Guide on Maintenance, Inspection and Through Examination of Mobile Cranes which can be downloaded from the CPA website free of charge at http://www.cpa.uk.net/p/Safety-Leaflets/

Following a recent Fatal Accident Enquiry into a road accident involving a mobile crane in Scotland, the Sherriff conducting the FAI recommended that "the United Kingdom Government enact legislation as a matter of urgency with the effect of removing the current exemption applying to mobile cranes from undergoing a compulsory regular test of roadworthiness". In 2010 the Department for Transport consulted widely on the removal of the exemption of mobile cranes and other vehicle from annual MOT testing. We understand that the DfT are in favour of removing the exemption and are currently working towards this.

The removal of the exemption from mobile cranes was discussed at the recent CPA Crane Interest Group Steering Committee meeting. The members of the Steering Group were, in principle, in favour of an annual roadworthiness test for mobile cranes as it was seen as a benefit in reducing road accidents involving mobile cranes. They were however concerned at the current lack of suitable test facilities for mobile cranes, particularly those over 50 tonne capacity, and would want any removal of the current exemption to have a suitable transition period. This would allow time for the development of suitable test facilities for all sizes of mobile crane, in sufficient number and geographical spread to ensure minimum downtime and loss of revenue to mobile crane owners. We believe that it is essential that if the current exemption is to be removed the DfT must enter into full dialogue with affected organisations, such as the CPA, to ensure that sufficient suitable test facilities are put in place before annual roadworthiness tests for mobile cranes are introduced.

Yours sincerely

Neil Partridge Chairman
Colin Wood Chief Executive

Crane Interest Group Steering Committee Construction Plant-hire Association