Industry Requests Revision of Standards To Ensure Safe Operation of Cranes and Reduce Casualties
Industry Requests Revision of Standards To Ensure Safe Operation of Cranes and Reduce Casualties
Industry Requests Revision of Standards To Ensure Safe Operation of Cranes and Reduce Casualties
NEWS
SI has announced the revision of BS 7121-2:2003 Code of practice for safe use of cranes Inspection, testing and examination in response to industrys call for a safer working environment, particularly within the construction sector. The law says that all lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person; appropriately supervised; and carried out in a safe manner. Cranes and lifting accessories such as slings must be of adequate strength, tested and subject to the required examinations and inspections. Despite this legislation, since 2001, according to the HSE, there have been 61 accidents involving tower cranes, nine people have died and 25 have been seriously injured, with poor maintenance being highlighted as the root cause of many of these accidents. A comprehensive review of the British Standard BS 7121-2:2003 is the industrys solution to help address these concerns. Working with experts, BSI has split this code of practice for safe use of cranes into six sub-parts, to bring more focus on specific
INDUSTRY REQUESTS REVISION OF STANDARDS TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION OF CRANES AND REDUCE CASUALTIES
types of cranes. This will ensure BS 7121-2:2003 will continue to provide current best practice for the inspection, maintenance and thorough examination of the principal types of cranes used within the UK and overseas. These updates will offer critical guidance for all users and operators of cranes throughout the UK but will also have worldwide applicability. The standard is currently being developed by influential experts in this field, including the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) and Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA). Also participating on the committee are representatives from the Safety Assessment Federation Ltd (SAFed), Association of Lorry Loaders Manufacturers and Importers (ALLMI) and Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). BSI is also eager to get feedback, comment and input on these Drafts for Public Comment from wider industry sources. All comments received during public consultation on the drafts will be reviewed by the BSI Technical Committee MHE/3/11 Crane safety and testing and may be incorporated into the published British Standard. The current schedule for release of the drafts is as follows: BS 7121-2-1 General http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/46090 BS 7121-2-3 Mobile Cranes http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/46112 BS 7121-2-4 Loader Cranes DPC expected October 2012 BS 7121-2-5 Tower Cranes DPC expected October 2012 BS 7121-2-7 Overhead travelling cranes http://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/456115 BS 7121-2-9 Cargo handling & container cranes DPC expected October 2012 Each draft will be available for a period of two months from the date of issue. To get involved and comment on these, or any other British Standard drafts, please visit: http://drafts.bsigroup.com/
GTC works extensively with Crest Nicholson and this significant housing development further cements the strong and well established working relationship. Mark Osborn, Development Executive, at Crest Nicholson comments: We were pleased to award GTC this contract following their previous performances on existing developments. Their ability to provide project assurance and delivery within our programme is essential, particularly under the HCAs scheme. Cheesmans Green has presented numerous challenges as the development has culverts under the main access roads, this means that the mains can not be sited under the road surface. GTC has resolved this issue, proposing to lay mains in bridle paths, which are at a suitable elevation. With further development still being finalised, GTC has designed a network that will allow for possible future expansion. Further information from Trudy Mudd, GTC, Energy House, Woolpit Business Park, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds IP30 9UP. Tel: 01359 240154. E-mail: trudy.mudd@gtc-uk.co.uk Web: www.gtc-uk.co.uk