A statutory tower crane registry has been formulated by the Health and Safety Executive to help increase safety at work sites where these equipments are used. Several accidents where these cranes are used have resulted in the formulation of these regulations.

A public consultation that took place over a three-month period has yielded the final outlines as detailed in this proposal. The proposal has been forwarded for approval from the ministry. Once approved, the regulations will be put in force from April 2010 onwards. These proposals will make the use and safety checking mechanisms of tower crane more transparent and will help boost the confidence of the public in the handling and operation of these huge machines.

When it undertook this scheme, HSE asked for and received 100 responses to the consultation from various segments of the industry such as trade unions, construction contractors and other stakeholders. All construction sites using cranes will be encompassed by these regulations once they are implemented.

Employer companies using the cranes will be required to disclose into a register maintained by HSE the details of the specifications, performance checks, faults (if identified) and other information about the tower crane being deployed on site. This register will be open to view for anyone, and a registration fee will be charged.

Disclosing information about periodic checks and testing procedures is expected to help people become more aware of how mishaps with these mammoth equipments can be prevented with regular checks.

These regulations and proposals are being put into action after as many as eight accidents have been reported since 2000 that are directly related to tower cranes. HSE sources have reiterated that the disclosure via the register will also act as a check on employers and prompt them to incorporate regular inspections of their operations.

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