CPA Bulletin

26 CPA Bulletin > May 2024 www.cpa.uk.net New TCIG Guidance on the Tendering, Management and Operations of Tower Cranes PUBLICATIONS: 1 PUBLICATIONS The guidance indicates that the employing organisation should consider the amount of assistance required from the tower crane supplier and whether it would be appropriate to enter into a pre-construction service agreement with the supplier. This ensures that decisions are made by the most appropriate parties and that they are made in a timely manner, plus that assumptions can be avoided by the early engagement and employment of a competent supplier, minimising unnecessary delays and cost overruns. The guidance also encourages tower crane suppliers to undertake an audit of their crane fleet and operational procedures to identify areas of strength and areas where improvements can be made. By following the guidance, tower crane suppliers are able to demonstrate that they can provide tower cranes and personnel to undertake lifting operations safely in compliance with good practice guidelines and statutory requirements. Users of tower cranes are encouraged to adopt the guide when selecting potential tower crane suppliers to ensure that the supplier has the necessary competence and procedures in place and indicates where additional information can be found if the user organisation is unclear on any of their requirements. There is additional guidance for travelling on public highways, which closely follows the requirements of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) and strongly recommends that tower crane suppliers demonstrate that their delivery vehicles and any attendant mobile cranes have a minimum achievement of FORS Bronze standard. The TCIG guidance also refers to the Crane Interest Group’s Guidance recent publication on the Tendering, Management and Operations of Mobile Cranes, that may be used to erect and dismantle a tower crane. This is a vital sub-set of the tower crane strategy for the project during the construction phase, especially when considering the size and weight of the mobile crane that will arrive via the public highway as projects can incur costs and delays where they fail to properly prepare for or manage the arrival and use of mobile cranes. Updated TCIG Guidance on Tower Crane Erection TeamComposition TCIG have updated their technical Information Note (TIN) on the Tower Crane Erection Team Composition (TIN 030) to reflect some changes to the roles and for certification and carding requirements. The safe erection, alteration, climbing and dismantling (installation) of tower cranes relies on the competence of the occupational team carrying out the various tasks on site and it is essential that each erection team is made up of the correct minimum number of personnel with the appropriate combination of skills, experience, supervision and training to enable them to work effectively and safely as a team. The table that shows the minimum competency requirements has been updated to recognise the focus on CSCS-logoed card schemes for the relevant occupations and determines the training and competency qualifications for each carded occupations including supervisor, erector and electrical installer roles. The table also lists the progression activities to allow an individual to move up to the next role including carding and skill requirements along with new suggested training courses for all roles such as site environmental awareness, first aid at height and lifting accessory. Guidance on Battery Energy Storage Systems and Fire Risks The potential dangers in the event of a runaway fire on the larger Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) units - from 250kw/h plus - have been raised from a number of sources in relation to the increasing use of these energy systems to power tower crane and hoists units and the potential impacts if sited next to a tower crane or hoist base. From further discussions and investigations, many of the new-generation BESS units now have high levels of thermal control and inbuilt fire suppression systems, but there is collective agreement that some form of guidance on good practice with BESS specifications and positioning should be devised. The Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) - chaired by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - have already produced draft guidance - ‘Safety of Alternatives to Onsite Diesel: Things to The Tower Crane Interest Group (TCIG) have produced good practice guidance on suggested minimum standards on the tendering, management and operating of tower cranes. It covers legal requirements along with industry good practice and directs readers to further relevant guidance material and aims to raise standards and encourage sourcing from responsible tower crane suppliers.