16.07.2004

Be prepared for office inspections this autumn

A few of you may have seen an article in last weeks Construction News claiming that the HSE will begin sending specialist inspectors to audit crane hire company offices; checking that full risk assessments, method statements and competent appointed persons are being used on all lifts, whether contract lifting or straight crane hire jobs.

This story follows a plea by Martin Ainscough, Chief Executive of the UK’s largest crane hirer, Ainscough, at the recent crane safety conference in London, see Vertikal.Net June 25th.

Vertikal.Net has tried in vain to obtain formal confirmation for this “Story”. We can at least confirm that it is NOT HSE official policy, at this stage. However we did track the source down to Colin Wood, chief executive of the Contractors Plant-Hire Association and long time crane man.

Wood told Vertikal.Net that while last weeks article had “jumped the gun” as the policy was not yet formalised, it was true and that the HSE had “set the wheels in motion” to make such inspections a reality later this year.

The call from Ainscough was driven by the fact that a number of Crane hirers are, apparently, carrying out lifts on straight crane hire terms eve after discovering no method statement or qualified appointed person is available. In such a case the crane driver should refuse to carry out the lift until these shortfalls have been remedied or insist on converting the job to a Contract Lift (The hirer organises the method statement and appointed person). Ainscough said that his drivers will simply not start work until he has seen and studied a proper method statement covering the five main points of a typical lift.

The problem with this unilateral policy is that Ainscough and other conscientious hirers are loosing business to those who are prepared to “turn a blind eye” in such circumstances.

A move from building site inspections to crane hire office audits is a new step for the HSE, a step with significant repercussions. It could signal a move from the current situation which is effectively self regulation, to a regulated environment where hirers will be obligated to maintain a precise records of each and every lift they carry out which will be open for spot inspections by HSE staff.

With no acknowledgement form the HSE of this policy, we cannot at this stage predict, how tolerant the inspectors will be with their initial visits nor what sort of penalties will apply. However it does seem that those companies who are flouting the rules have time now to “get their houses in order” and “mend their ways”. It seems certain that office inspections are coming.