31.03.2020

CPA issues safety alert

The UK’s Construction Plant-Hire Association - the CPA - has issued a safety alert regarding out of service tower cranes on sites shut down for extended periods due to Covid-19 outbreak.

Issued by the CPA’s Tower Crane Interest Group, the safety alert sets out advice and considerations on how tower cranes should be left when out of service for potentially long periods of time and how failing to take the appropriate steps could result in the collapse of the jib or crane following high wind loadings.

This advice includes ensuring that crane owners and users obtain the most up to date information for taking the crane out of service from the manufacturer or supplier of the tower crane and also verifying that the crane has been left in the correct out of service condition.

For luffing jib cranes, it is strongly advised that the jib is parked at the maximum radius possible - allowing for surrounding obstacles - rather than at the minimum out of service radius specified by the manufacturer, while saddle jib cranes should park the trolley at the manufacturers recommended position along the jib. It also advises to check the function of the free slew mechanism and ensure it changes direction in the wind when left in free slew.

Finally, arrangements need to be made for the crane to be periodically inspected by a competent person whilst it remains out of service and then again before it returns back into service. This is in line with HSE’s latest guidance on statutory inspections which covers what considerations should be taken into account where inspection difficulties occur due to the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

To download CPA’s safety alert visit: https://www.cpa.uk.net/news-events/tower-crane-safety-alert--coronavirus