The Safe External Climbing of Tower Cranes DVD has been developed and produced jointly by contractor Bovis Lend Lease and crane hire firm Select Plant Hire, working in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive and Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA).
CPA said the film offers step-by-step practical advice through all stages of tower crane climbing, from planning through to onsite activities, including identification of hazards, development of safe systems of work, and the essential checks to be carried out both during the planning and on site on the day.
CPA added the DVD complements the Tower Crane Climbing Best Practice Guide currently under development by the CPA Tower Crane Interest Group. The guide will be published later this year, it said.
In autumn 2009, Select Plant Hire was issued with a £100,000 fine after the top of a tower crane it was extending fell at a site in Croydon in June 2007. After the 2009 ruling, a spokesperson told Cranes Today that Select Plant Hire had put in place a number of steps and measures designed to safeguard the well-being of its employees and prevent a similar accident occurring again.
This included two days a month of formal training for operatives; six days a month of refresher training; creating two new roles to oversee safety and onsite work practices; opening a new crane training facility at its St Neots facility; introducing a critical culture, where employees are encouraged to ask questions; introducing method statements with visual aids; piloting 3D technologies as visual aids; producing a detailed load list, to ensure all crane components are delivered to site; and producing an employee newsletter with a focus on legislation and examples of good, and bad, practices; as well as working on the DVD.
The Safe External Climbing of Tower Cranes is available free of charge through the CPA. Contact Louise Rider on louise@cpa.uk.net or +44 (0)20 7796 3366.
