HSE RELEASES DISCUSSION PAPER ON SAFE USE OF CLIMBING FRAMES ON TOWER CRANES

HSE press release: E024:03 - 17 February 2003

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today released a Discussion Paper on the safe design, manufacture, assembly, use and maintenance of climbing frames on tower cranes. This Paper identifies issues for discussion by the industry to feed into the development of improved standards for this type of work.

The paper arises from HSE's wider consideration of climbing frames prompted by the investigation into the collapse of the tower crane at Canary Wharf in 2000. However nothing in the paper should be read as being directly relevant to any one incident.

Kevin Myers, Chief Inspector of Construction said that, in releasing the Discussion Paper, the HSE aims to assist the industry in understanding the potential risks of using climbing frames in tower crane operations.

Kevin Myers said: "Having considered climbing of tower cranes in general and past operational experience, HSE believes that there may be the potential for serious accidents during the assembly, use and dismantling of external climbing frames."

"HSE is publishing this Discussion Paper at this time to share what we have learnt about crane climbing in general with the industry and to encourage feedback about industry's experience of operating this type of equipment. This should help with the development of more robust standards for this type of work and hopefully reduce risk".

The Discussion Paper identifies the following potentially critical factors, including:

• Establishing and maintaining the balance of the crane during changing environmental conditions
  
• Correct location of the climbing frame on the climbing lugs or other support points during the climb
  
• Prevention of slewing - either deliberate or inadvertent
  
• Wind loading should conditions change during a climb

The discussion paper suggests that:

• designers need to take into account all the relevant forces
  
• consideration could be given to improving the information available to the erection supervisor during climbing
  
• effective measures are needed to avoid deliberate or inadvertent slewing of the crane jib during a climb
  
• prevention of falls from walkways, platforms and access ladders needs some thought
  
• operating instructions should be easily understood and cover all the critical steps
  
• consideration should be given to the certification of erection crews by manufacturers or suppliers of climbing frames
  
• detailed risk assessments taking account of local conditions should be carried out
  
• consideration should be given to how the overall climbing operation is to be supervised
  
• a systematic approach to the examination, test and maintenance of climbing frames is needed.

Copies of the Discussion Paper can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm

Notes to editors

1. Industry responses to the document should be forwarded to Andrew East by 16 May 2003. It is expected that this process will contribute to the development of improved guidance and standards on the use of tower cranes.

2. The HSE is investigating an incident that occurred On 21 May 2000 when the top of a tower crane collapsed at Canada Square in the Canary Wharf area of East London. Three of the erection crew were killed in the collapse. None of the details of this investigation can be released at this time as to do so may prejudice any possible enforcement action. You are reminded that the Coroner is yet to conclude his inquest and this matter remains the subject of his proceedings.

3. The HSE sent a report on the Canary Wharf crane collapse incident to the Coroner in January 2003. As yet no date has been set for the Inquest.

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