At a November 23 meeting, the Strategic Forum for Construction Health and Safety Group’s tower crane group started to plan a seven-point short-term agenda. The Strategic Forum is an initiative of the Construction Confederation that includes six UK contractors associations, including the Major Contractors’ Group, the National Federation of Builders and the National Contractors Federation.

The tower crane group was created earlier this year as a forum to improve the planning, management, operations and communication of tower crane activities across the whole of the construction industry, according to the group. It is chaired by industry veteran John Spanswick.

It includes Colin Wood, chief executive of the Construction Plant-hire Association and John Batey, of the United Crane Operators’ Association, among others.

Several working groups are being set up to carry out research.

A working group will map current competency and training schemes for tower crane lifts, analyse how current they are, and recommend changes where necessary. The chairman is Andy Newell, plant training manager, National Construction College.

A working group will ensure that there is comprehensive best-practice guidance on the maintenance and thorough examination of tower cranes. The chairman is Tim Watson, the Construction Plant-hire Association’s resident crane expert, and the author of the association’s guide on the subject which is currently out for public comment.

A working group will produce clear standards and guidelines on operator working conditions. The chairman is Shelley Atkinson-Frost, the Construction Confederation’s director of health and safety.

A working group will develop a site induction template that simplifies the current system, avoiding lengthy and/or repetitious inductions for those involved in lifting operations. The chairman is Ian Watson, Bovis Lend Lease supply chain solutions safety manager, EHS Support.

A working group will aim to ensure effective site communication to workers. It will work with the Strategic Forum for Construction Health and Safety Group’s worker engagement working group.

Members of the group agreed to compile both fatal and major incidents and near hit incidents which could have resulted in major injury. They will analyse them and distribute the key lessons to the rest of the industry.

A working group will look to include a public statement that tower cranes on sites registered with the UK industry’s Considerate Constructors scheme are safe to use.

The tower crane group’s next meeting is planned for April 2008.