Managing the risks associated with tower cranes can cut fatalitiy rates, reduce accidents, prevent prosecutions, and avoid expensive disruption and delays to the project. These are all good reasons to take the issue seriously.

However, the notion of risk management begs a fundamental question: what is risk? The answer is that it is everything that can cause an accident and/or deviation to the site schedule that may, in some circumstances, lead to total failure.

Risk management involves solving safety problems before they arise. For constrution tower cranes, it means identifying the potential problem, analysing the data, and then providing the right solution.

Risk analysis enables you to determine the risk factors associated with the tower crane during the construction project. It also allows you to assess changes that may occur to the site and tower crane structure as a result of the risk in cases of high rise construction, and helps you to take corrective measures to eliminate or reduce the risks.

There are several basic steps to effective risk analysis. They are:

1. Identifying the risk before the project starts – Plan and select the right tower cranes for the site requirements and each stage of construction. This step also involves determining the safest way to dismantle the cranes at the conclusion of the project.

Location and identification of the risk during the project. Because the construction environment is always changing, it is important to perform the risk management at each stage.

Analysis. The risk can be concentrated in different branches of engineering – for example, foundation construction, electrical, or mechanical – so after analysing the risk, the next step is to identify the right experts to handle the problem.

Concentration. Document the risk to ensure that the right person takes responsibillty for problem solving.

Repair. Repair must be by a competent person and with original parts. The competent person should report on the right document to the risk manager on the site.

Performance control and reinspection. A single competent person or engineer – who can be external consultant – should be responsible for performance control and reinspection. This person.

2. Documenting the risk – Describe each risk in terms of its degree and its effects; identify those responsible for handling the risk; explain the principle risk components, and describe the actions required to reduce risk. The risk components can be divided into several main groups:

* Operator mistakes.

* Changes in enviromental conditions.

* Maintenance problems.

* Wrong instructions and decisions made by site managers.

* The instalation and dismantling processes of the cranes.

* For older cranes, fatigue, wear and internal corosion of the elements.

* Dismantling of forms after casting, lifting of heavy elements, and lifting of bulk raw materials.

3. Constructing a plan to eliminate or reduce risks – Draw up an activty schedule describing the following:

* The events the completion of which will reduce the level of risk by a certain value.

* The principle activities you need to perform in order to make these events happen.

* A progression plan to reduce risk level along the time axis.

The key to effective risk management is the appointment of a senior and experinced person on the project who will:

* Constitute an official intermediary and co-ordinator of the risk management programme on site.

* Be responsible for reporting risks to all levels.

* Work with a professional consultant.

* Maintain the risk management plan.

* Co-ordinate the training activities on the subject of risk.

* Can perform the function part time.

An effective risk management plan can save money, and time. It can also reduce the misery caused by accidents, and offer you peace of mind. But above all, it can save lives. What could be more important than that?