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Register must cover all cranes

UCATT is calling for the creation of a 'full comprehensive crane register' to improve safety standards. The construction union's submission to the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) consultation on creating a tower crane register, which closed this week, argues the register should be fully comprehensive, including all cranes and not just conventional tower cranes. The government decision to introduce a register followed a series of high profile crane collapses, some resulting in fatalities. UCATT says all forms of self-erecting cranes should be registered, adding 'there is absolutely no justification for towed tower cranes which operate in a manner very similar to conventional tower cranes not being registered.' The union also wants cranes used in other sectors covered, not those used in construction. UCATT says the proposal that a company has up to 14 days to register the erection of a crane online is unacceptable. It wants registration within three days. UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie said: 'The decision to establish a crane register is good news but in order for it to be truly effective it must be truly comprehensive. There must be no half measures or there is a real danger that the safety benefits that the establishment of a register should provide could be weakened.' A response to the HSE consultation from the Chartered Institute of Building says the new measures should not form a stand-alone regulation, but should be incorporated into existing regulations.

UCATT news release. Construction News. HSE crane consultation.

Briefing document (300 words) issued 16 Oct 2009