20.10.2006

Tower Crane Safety

The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has been involved in the lifting industry for over sixty years and it is fair to say that accidents on construction sites involving tower cranes are thankfully rare events.

It has also been extremely unusual for a tower crane to fail whilst it is in operational mode.

The tragic accident at Battersea, and latterly the incident at New Street Square, has proved that despite the Tower Crane Industry’s excellent safety record, the industry can never afford to become complacent.

The CPA, through its Tower Crane Interest Group (TCIG), has been tirelessly working to improve levels of safety in the industry.

Over just the last two years we have had major input into the recent revision of Part Five of BS7121 on the Safe Use of Tower Cranes, the CITB/CPA Tower Crane Erector Training Scheme, CIRIA Guide to Tower Crane Stability document and the forthcoming NVQ in Tower Crane Installation.

We have also produced a series of Technical Information Notes covering a wide range of topics concerned with the safe installation and use of tower cranes. These are available free on our website at www.cpa.uk.net.

On the basis that everyone needs to learn from all accidents, TCIG will continue to work with the industry and tower crane manufacturers to review the results of the investigations into these latest accidents and ensure that all steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of a repetition of these events.

The CPA Tower Crane Interest Group