CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > May 2018 51 Special Interest Groups: 2 CPA‘s Crane Interest Group Steering Committee elects Ainscough’s Janet Entwistle as Chairman The CPA’s Crane Interest Group Steering Committee has elected Ainscough Crane Hire’s CEO, Janet Entwistle, to chair the Crane Interest Group (CIG). The Crane Interest Group, which has been in existence for over twenty-five years, is the largest of a series of CPA special interest groups and represents the crane sector on a national and international basis. The CIG has been heavily involved in establishing and refining operational standards for crane hire in the UK and developed the concept of Contract Lifting which was a major step forward in the professionalisation of the sector. The CIG also champions safe operation in the industry through a range of guidance documents aimed at crane hire companies and their customers. These include the CPA Best Practice Guide (BPG) for Crane Hire and Contract Lifting, the BPG for the Maintenance Inspection and Thorough Examination of Mobile Cranes, BPG for Work at Height with Mobile Cranes, the BPG for Self-Escorting of vehicles, and the Safe Use of Lorry Loaders. Colin Wood, Special Adviser to the CPA, said. ‘Ainscough Crane Hire has been heavily involved with the Crane Interest Group since its inception over twenty years ago. I am pleased that, once again, they are taking an important role in the group and we welcome Janet’s involvement in the future.’ Janet Entwistle added: “I’m very proud to accept this role to represent the whole industry at an important time for the sector. Whatever I can do to help promote safety, professionalism and dynamism in the sector, I will do. “I’m here to listen and help the CPA drive forward its agenda for the crane hire sector in the UK.” Suction and Vacuum Excavator Special Interest Group (SAVE) The Suction and Vacuum Excavator (SAVE) Special Interest Group, Steering Committee last met on 2nd November 2017 and The next steering committee meeting will take place on 3rd May 2018 at Balfour Beatty, Raynesway, Derby DE21 7BG. Shoring Technology Interest Group (STIG) The Steering Committee last met on 14th February 2018 and discussed a number of key points and issues including, the status and review progress of TIN’s and other STIG publications including, Management of Shoring in Excavations Part 3 - Selection of Proprietary Shoring Equipment. The next steering committee meeting will take place on 23rd May 2018 at Nuthurst Grange, Hockley Heath B94 5NL. Tower Crane Interest Group (TCIG) The Steering Committee last met on 7th March 2018 with the agenda for meeting covering a range of topics including, Technical Information Note (TIN) revisions and update - Lifting of pre-slung loads, Falling objects and tethering, TE of self-erecting cranes. The TOPIC Steering Committee last met on 31st January 2018 with the agenda for meeting covering a range of topics including, Trailblazer Update (a) Construction Equipment Operative - A couple of submissions in relation to this apprenticeship have been made with the stance being that Construction Equipment Operative is the main occupation but because it involves a wide range of machines, it needs to be recognised through the learning and the post certification, that it has been broken it down in to a number of different areas. Some where there are groups of machines to suit particular sectors like groundworks but also the specialist operators who will operate at a higher level and will focus on one particular machine, which will be their occupation. Originally 14 different options were chosen which were deemed by the IfA to be excessive, a revised suggested acceptance threshold of 10 options would be looked upon favourably. (b) Construction Equipment Maintenance Engineer –a similar apprenticeship is being offered by the land based sector for Agricultural Mechanics and the sectors would work together to establish a joint standard. However, on closer investigation of the standards, there were a number of potential issues therefore could not be adopted as they stood. The IfA then suggested that the construction group met with the land based group and look at ways of working together. A meeting was arranged between the two groups, with the initial dialogue appearing to be positive however, by the time the meeting came around in September 2017, the tone had changed in that their land based standard had already been approved and they were now not willing to change anything. As a consequence, the trailblazer Chairs met with the relationship manager to express that there were fundamental suitability issues with the land base standard that were not suitable and could not be adopted and therefore the employer group expressed a wish to develop their own standard for the construction sector. Training On Plant In Construction (TOPIC)