CPA launches consultation period for operator medical fitness guide

This gives hire firms, contractors, insurers and operators, or anyone else, the chance to download the draft guidance from the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) website and make comments.

The guidance helps firms address the health issues of crane operators, for example with those that are visual impairment, hearing problems, have difficulty concentrating, o rhave other health issues, which may create problems on the job.

It does not bar having operators past a certain age, but seeks to ensure that their health level is suited to the task at hand.

It suggests that crane hire firms implement occupational health policies by working with 3rd party occupational health consultants to create a standard of minimum health for their hire plant.

“We take this as the opportunity to get as wide an audience for this consultation process as possible,” said CPA’s Kevin Minton. “We know there is a potential for things to go wrong as a result of medical fitness issues and that is why we are trying to create useful guidance. Different organizations are doing different things and we hope that this may lead to better understanding of the issues, and to some uniformity.”

The launch may not affect firms such as UK contractors Costain that already have occupational health standards.

The published guide will wear the stamp of industry bodies and is likely to carry that of the UK Health and Safety Executive, said HM Inspector Marcus O’Connor of the HSE. “We worked with industry to develop it and when the consultation process is complete, we anticipate that HSE will fully endorse it. The HSE is responding to the challenges that it faces, and we are looking for new and efficient ways of working with industry.”

The guidance will serve as a useful aid when accidents or disagreements arise over hiring and employing operators with health issues.