The UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has partially backed down on its demand that all truck loader cranes in the UK must be fitted with stabiliser interlocks, or an equivalent mechanical device, and reached a working compromise with the industry.
The HSE has secured the agreement of manufacturers and the European Standing Committee (Working Group) on the Machinery Directive, that interlocks for new truck loader cranes ‘need to be developed as a matter of urgency to comply with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (SMSR)’.
But it is no longer saying, as it did in August 2001, that stabiliser interlocks are mandatory already – apparently agreeing with the manufacturers that such a position is unworkable.
An interlocking system prevents a crane from being used unless its stabiliser legs are properly set up.
An HSE statement on 14 February said: ‘Manufacturers have agreed to pursue the development of suitable and reliable interlock systems (or an equivalent solution) to be commercially available by 2006 that can be applied to all new models of lorry loader. When the development and availability of these devices is sufficiently advanced, HSE will propose a revision to EN 12999, the European standard.’
The HSE said that users of truck loaders should in the meantime ensure that interlocks (or an equivalent engineering solution) are fitted where practicable. It warned that any modifications or additions to existing machines should only be carried out with specific approval of the manufacturer or an authorised representative.
Among the most vocal critics of the August 2001 announcement was the timber crane industry in Scotland. In response to this criticism, the HSE said that it had now ‘recognised that lorry loaders fitted to lorries used for raw timber transport in the forestry industry have particular operational problems and are excluded from the scope of the update’.
Responding to the HSE’s compromise, the Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers & Importers (ALLMI) expressed one reservation. Chairman Doug Dyson said: ‘We feel that while the HSE has acknowledged the special case for timber cranes, there is also a case for the proposed amendment to EN 12999 to limit the recommended fitment of stabiliser interlocks to loader cranes with a lifting capacity of more than of 1,000kg or 40,000Nm (4tm).
EN 12999 already makes a similar distinction by not requiring the fitting of rated capacity indicators or overload protection to loader cranes of less than 1,000kg lift or 40,000Nm load moment. I would expect WGP8, the drafting committee of EN 12999, to consider these mini cranes as a special case when the standard is amended.’
Wilson Paton, managing director of Outreach, a dealer for Palfinger, Loglift and Jonsered, responded: ‘There is an issue to be addressed [regarding stabiliser interlocks] but the technical complexities are far greater than were understood. The HSE would be better giving their attention to stabiliser beams being properly locked into position for transport.’
Many in the industry regard this as the greater safety issue. On 29 January a 56 year old woman was killed in Wednesbury, UK, in an accident believed to have been caused by ‘flying’ stabilisers.
A 17t Scania truck rounded a corner and hit a parked car, and causing a four-car shunt of parked vehicles. Two other women suffered serious head injuries. According to police, the women were standing between two of the parked cars. The 23 year old driver of the truck suffered shock, but was physically unhurt. According to witnesses quoted in the local press, the passenger-side stabiliser leg of the truck was extended at the time of the incident and caused the crash. With their investigations continuing, the police were unable to confirm this.
The truck was fitted with a 19tm knuckleboom crane, fitted three years ago and in accordance with EN 12999. The stabiliser legs had a primary and secondary locking device. The primary lock was a cam type, the secondary was a spring loaded clip. The first lock has to be actively engaged, while the secondary lock – a back-up system that is not designed to be relied on – engages automatically.
Like most truck loader cranes on the roads, no warning device was fitted to indicate whether the legs were properly stowed, or ‘up and in’. Such a device is not mandatory in Europe – although in the UK truck loader cranes must be fitted with overheight warning devices that indicate if the boom and jib have not been stowed properly. This measure is designed to protect physical infrastructure, namely overbridges, from being hit.
Legs ‘up and in’ warning indicators are offered by most manufacturers as an optional item, but even though they cost only in the region of E 500 ($540), it is an option that only about a third of customers specify.
The HSE’s remit is workplace safety, and so is primarily concerned that cranes are deployed properly for safe operation. The issue of stabilisers flying out while trucks are being driven – ‘up and in’ indicators – is a police matter, because they look after the highways. The UK law that states truck loader cranes must have overheight warning devices is part of the Road Traffic Act.
While the HSE’s campaign for stabiliser interlocks to ensure ‘down and out’ operations met with some resistance from the UK industry on grounds of practicality, ALLMI members are leading calls for the Road Traffic Act to be amended to make ‘up and in’ warning indicators compulsory. ALLMI chairman Doug Dyson said: ‘My personal opinion is that up and in warning indicators or interlocks should be adopted universally.’
