Safety

I “identify tower crane incidents that had taken place around the world between 1989 to 2009 and obtain, where possible, the causes of each incident and the tower crane involved”.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction.

Alert to the construction industry to remind those working on projects where tower cranes are in use of the importance of the safe erection, operation, maintenance and dismantling of such cranes. This alert has been prompted by a number of serious incidents involving tower cranes in recent years.

Kier Plant – the UK-based rental division of Kier Construction – has launched a 30 day consultation period with its remaining crane operators as part of a proposal to drop all directly employed operators

The US Crane & Derricks in Construction Final Rule standards have been released and will be published in the Federal Register on August 9th 90 days later an up to four year transition period begins before all sections effectively become law.

The Crane Certification Association of America (CCAA) and the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) announced plans to develop cooperatively a certification program for crane inspectors, also known as “crane certifiers” or “crane surveyors.”

A safety alert on the influence of wind forces during crane operations has been issued jointly by FEM and ESTA.

A tower crane should only be erected or dismantled and tested by competent persons, i.e. an engineer and erection crew trained in the erection and dismantling of that type of tower crane.

One of our English readers spotted one of the craziest operators we have seen since starting our Death Wish series – in France.

In spite of a number of fatal accidents people are still setting up lifts in the street without proper cordoning off.