CPA Bulletin

8 CPA Bulletin > August 2020 www.cpa.uk.net ASSOCIATIONNEWS: 1 ASSOCIATION NEWS Tim Watson Memorial Prize The CPA is supporting the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Crane Safety 2020 seminar which is taking place as a live online event on 15th September 2020. The online seminar will allow the opportunity to hear the latest regulatory requirements and best practice from recent lifting projects to ensure high levels of safety and reduced risk of incidents in crane operations. Hear from representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Babcock, NOCN, Sir Robert McAlpine, EnerMech Ltd, LEEA, Laing O’Rourke and Select Plant Hire. Plus, attendees will hear international case studies with The Men FromMarr’s, who will discuss lifting projects involving the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey and the Sydney Metro in Australia. The agenda and speakers are selected by IMechE. Tickets can be booked online at www.imeche.org/cranesafety2020 and CPA members qualify for a discount. When booking, click on the Supporting Organisation rate or contact FionaWong and mention your CPA membership (Tel: 0207 973 1251 or email: fiona.wong @ imeche.org ) . Crane Safety 2020 In the last issue of the CPA Bulletin, we published that our friend and colleague TimWatson very sadly passed away on Friday 3rd April 2020. Timwas Technical Consultant to CPA for many years and had been undergoing treatment for cancer. In order to commemorate Tim’s contribution to the industry, CPA is establishing the TimWatson Memorial Prize. Details are being developed at the time of writing, but the proposal is to support an engineering undergraduate in their final year thesis. The prize would be organised in conjunction with an engineering university, and we have approached Brunel University London. To be successful the candidate’s choice of thesis would need to relate to construction plant, probably with a focus on issues relating to lifting. The thesis would need to have the potential to add to the shared industry knowledge on the subject, and the candidate would be asked to present their findings to the relevant Special Interest Groups. The support could take the form of funding for costs outside their normal study, for example travel. It could also be professional support, such as mentoring, and access to contacts and expertise. Timwas made aware of the outline plan for a memorial prize in his name, and we understand from his family that he was fully supportive of the concept. Tim’s family will be kept informed and invited to participate as appropriate. A small panel of Tim’s engineering colleagues is working with the Chief Executive on the development of the Memorial Prize. The panel aim to provide the same sort of experienced and helpful support to the candidate that TimWatson was able to provide to many of his colleagues - and hopefully the prize winner would be encouraged to build their career in the construction plant sector. Further Tributes to TimWatson Colin Wood, CPA Chief Executive 2001 - 2018 and CPA Trustee I have had the great pleasure of working with TimWatson for over 27 years. I first met Tim, in the early nineties, on the Crane Interest Group of the CPA when I was working in the crane rental industry and Timwas with EPL part of John Laing Construction. By the time Tim had formed his own consultancy company I had become the Chief Executive of the CPA in 2001. From then on, we formed a close working relationship particularly within the CPA’s Special Interest Groups with Tim being the driving force in creating many Good Practice Guides and British Standards for Tower Cranes, Mobile and Crawler Cranes, Construction Hoists and Access Platforms, amongst others. I don’t know how Tim found the time but he also worked for the HSE as an expert witness, and another company - PAC (Powered Access Certification). He also worked on various committees both in the UK and Europe. Tim, a qualified engineer, was the most diligent, professional and patient man and even in the middle of preparing invaluable operational safety guidance he would stop what he was working on and promptly deal with the numerous queries coming from our CPA Members. He had a wealth of knowledge in our industry, unsurpassed by anyone I know. He was a gentleman with a great sense of humour and he will be sadly missed. Tim is irreplaceable and this Memorial Prize will be a fitting tribute and everlasting memory to Tim’s massive contribution to both the CPA and the plant industry as a whole. Brian Jones, CPA President Timwas without doubt one of the most knowledgeable men to which I had the great pleasure of knowing and working alongside. Tim’s contribution to our Association, its members and the industry was immense and he will be sadly missed by us all.