CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > August 2021 29 ESTA: 2 Meissner urges action on wind project safety ESTA concerned at introduction of ERRU register ESTA’s work to improve safety project planning and safety during the construction of onshore wind farms has received strong support from one of the most respected figures in the European crane industry. Klaus Meissner is the Convenor for the European standards committee on mobile crane safety - and a member of the Supervisory Board of ECOL - the European Crane Operators Licence scheme. He spent more than 30 years with Demag Mobile Cranes, latterly as Director of Engineering Systems and Product Safety. As the wind energy sector expands and becomes an ever-more important part of the world’s energy mix, Meissner is pressing the industry to adopt the measures and practices detailed in the Best Practice Guide for Transport and Installation of Onshore Wind WTG Systems, published by ESTA, the European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes, and the earlier FEM report Safety Issues in Wind Turbine Installation and Transportation. Meissner said: “As the turbines get bigger, so our clients need to understand that we need bigger cranes to do the work safely. Crane manufacturers have cranes of many sizes in their portfolio and have created different boom systems for such jobs but, of course, there are cost implications. With bigger cranes the costs for job site preparation increases, they leap with every change of crane size. “In addition, with bigger cranes the site layout and ground conditions become even more important factors and are especially significant if crane operators are expected to move the cranes in partially erected mode because of time pressures. “Cranes need to be moved around sites as easily, quickly and safely as possible - and that means good cooperation and communication between all of those involved in the site development from an early stage.” Meissner warned that if all involved in the wind industry do not come together and implement improvements, national authorities will take action - which could make the current situation even worse. “ESTA and FEM’s work is important because it sets a baseline of standards that the whole industry can adhere to. “I believe it is essential that the European industry as a whole takes a lead to create common international standards, because if we do not, then national governments and regulatory authorities will start setting their own standards and we will face the situation of different regulations in every country, increasing fragmentation and as such finally undermining safety.” ESTA is “extremely concerned” at the impact on the heavy and abnormal transport sector of the new sanctions register for transport violations which came into effect on April 1. The ERRU register - the European Register of Road Transport Undertakings - contains Europe-wide records of violations of transport legislation and includes a penalty points system. If a transport operator collects too many penalty points, they risk losing their licence to operate. Under the new system, every violation of road transport law will attract a number of penalty points. If a company’s points exceeds its limit - set according to the size of the company - it risks having its licence suspended or revoked. In addition, the legislation also applies to individual transport managers. ESTA Director Ton Klijn said that ESTA strongly backs all measures to improve safety but added that as a result of the structure of the register and how it is enforced, the abnormal transport sector risks being disproportionately and severely punished and companies will face a much higher risk of losing their permit than other transport operators. Further details about the ERRU register are in the news and library sections of the ESTA website. Future ESTAmeetings ESTA is still planning to hold its Autumn Meeting and Dinner, in person, in Helsinki, Finland, on October 14-15 - assuming that it is permitted under the pandemic restrictions. Watch the ESTA website for updates.