The Health and Safety Executive has issued a safety alert on the use of tower cranes in the wake of last month’s collapse on a site in Battersea, south-west London.

The notice, which the HSE said had been prompted by “a number of serious incidents” involving tower cranes, follows the death of two people in the collapse at Barratt Homes’ Thessaly Road site.

The document asks tower crane managers to undertake a series of checks. It wants:

  • An independent and impartial person to examine each crane after its erection
  • Pre-use checks to be carried out by the crane operator at the start of each shift
  • In-service inspections to be carried out by the crane operator at weekly intervals, with records kept of the inspections.
In a statement, the HSE said: “The HSE warns the construction industry, and in particular those working on projects where tower cranes are in use, of the importance of the safe erection, operation, maintenance and dismantling of such cranes.”

Full list of HSE recommendations

    Ensuring cranes are erected and dismantled by competent workers with necessary training and experience
  • Companies should draw up written procedures for each type of tower crane based on manufacturers’ instructions, with procedures to be available on site.
  • An independent and impartial person should examine each crane after its erection
  • Pre-use checks to be carried out by the crane operator at the start of each shift
  • In-service inspections should be carried out by the crane operator at weekly intervals, with records kept of the inspections
  • A properly planned maintenance system should be established and used, with replacement parts usually acquired from the original manufacturer.
  • Lifting operations should be properly planned and appropriately supervised.

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