HSE REACHES AGREEMENT ON IMPORTANCE OF INTERLOCK SYSTEMS FOR NEW LORRY LOADER CRANES

HSE press release E020:03 - 14 February 2003

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in consultation with major manufacturers and the European Standing Committee (Working Group) on the Machinery Directive, has agreed that interlocks for new lorry loader cranes need to be developed as a matter of urgency to comply with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (SMSR).

Manufacturers have agreed to pursue the development of suitable and reliable interlock systems (or an equivalent engineering solution) to be commercially available by 2006 that can be applied to all new models of lorry loader. When the development and availability of these devices is sufficiently advanced HSE will propose a revision to EN12999, the European Standard for cranes and loader cranes, via British Standards Institution (BSI) and European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) technical committees.

In the meantime, HSE advises that employers should ensure that interlocks (or an equivalent engineering solution) are fitted where practicable for their machinery and delivery needs. Any modifications or additions to existing machines should only be carried out with specific approval of the manufacturer or their authorized representative. Employers must also make certain operators of lorry loader cranes are properly trained in all aspects of the operation of a lorry loader. A policy dealing with the delivery of loads and agreed actions to be taken in the event that a lorry loader cannot deliver its load in safety i.e. if both sets of stabilisers cannot be deployed according to the manufacturers' instructions, must also be in place.

An interlocking system prevents a lorry loader from being used unless its legs are properly deployed. HSE has recognised that lorry loaders fitted to lorries used for raw timber transport in the forestry industry have particular operational problems and are excluded from the scope of the update.

Notes to editors

1. The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (as amended) implement the European Machinery Directive (98/37/EC) in the UK. The Regulations require that manufacturers of machinery ensure that their products are safe and address the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) set out in the Directive within the 'state of the art' (technology that is commercially available at the time of manufacture).

2. A Working Group to the European Standing Committee of the Machinery Directive deals with the implementation and practical application of the Directive. It consists of representatives from all the Member States plus interested parties including standards making bodies, social partners and notified bodies.

3. European Standards are developed as guidance to help manufacturers, etc. comply with the law. They provide detailed information on how to address a range of hazards and risks that particular types of machinery may present. Machinery manufactured in accordance with harmonized European Standards, enjoy a presumption of conformity with those EHSRs of the Directive covered by Standard. However, it is only after a Standard has been agreed and a reference to it published in the Official Journal of the European Communities that the manufacturer can claim conformity.

4. Standard EN12999 Cranes - Loader Cranes was ratified by CEN on 8 March 2001 and mandated on 18 September 2002. The present text of EN12999 does not require the safety devices discussed in this press notice. HSE is taking steps to agree an amendment to the standard to address this. HSE has put forward a proposal to BSI to include an additional clause for a requirement to fit interlocks in the ISO Standard for Loader Cranes. BSI has forwarded the proposal to the ISO/TC 96/SC 6 Working Group.

5. CEN is the European standards organisation who promote voluntary technical harmonisation in Europe in conjunction with worldwide bodies and its European partners. Harmonised standards are adopted in accordance with general guidelines agreed between CEN and the European Commission, signed on 13 November 1984. Harmonised standards are technical specifications, which give a presumption of conformity with Directives.

6. EN (European Normale) is the prefix given to a European Standard. Once CEN have ratified a Standard, it is given the prefix EN. The national standards bodies in each member state then transpose these Standards. BSI transposes ENs in the UK and gives them the prefix BS EN.

7. Where Member States find machines that, in their opinion, are liable to endanger safety, they are required to take all appropriate measures to address this, including notifying the European Commission. HSE is taking this action on this issue.

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