A UK research project into tower crane safety has been postponed after government-funding was put on hold.
The project, managed by the Construction Industry Research & Information Association (CIRIA) project was all set to begin until the largest supporter of the project, the UK Department of Trade & Industry, decided to held back its funding until the Health & Safety Executive’s inquest into the May 2000 Canary Wharf tower crane accident has been completed. The DTI has promised to contribute £70,000 of the £150,000 ($235,000) project.
The inquest has been delayed because of legal proceedings. In July, an appeal court ruled that Hewden Stuart, the hire company that owned the crane, was responsible for the accident, which occurred as a tower crane was being climbed with a hydraulic climbing frame. Hewden Stuart, which retained liability although its has since sold its tower crane division, has the option to appeal.
‘It is still hoped that the project will be able to start as soon as possible and we still have the full support of the HSE, who remain committed to producing good practice guidance to help the industry improve tower crane safety and still wish to contribute to the project as soon as they are able to,’ said David Storey, until recently assistant project manager at CIRIA.
