CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > August 2023 31 ESTA: 2 The International Crane Stakeholders Assembly - of which ESTA is amember - has agreed to develop new guidance on the safe operation of mobile cranes near power lines. The ICSA’s move follows publication of the controversial new European Machinery Regulations. The document says that ‘where relevant’, it requires all mobile machinery to be designed to prevent contact with overhead power lines or where the risk cannot be avoided, designed to ensure that all hazards “of an electrical nature” are prevented. Concerns have also been raised about the issue in Australia. WorkSafe, a government health and safety agency in Western Australia, issued a new health and safety bulletin in May following a number of incidents involving mobile cranes making contact with live overhead power lines. The ICSA’s new guidance is in addition to its work on the lifting plan guidance document which was announced at the end of last year. The ICSA’s published technical reports to date are available from free download either the library section of the ESTA website or from the ICSA at https://icsa-crane.org . The ICSA is a global organisation dedicated to improving safety and promoting the harmonization of international standards. It currently has seven active members. Apart from ESTA, they are: Association of Equipment Manufacturers [AEM]; Crane Industry Council of Australia [CICA]; Canadian Crane Rental Association of Canada (CCRA); European Federation of Material Handling [FEM]; Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association [SC&RA]; Japan Crane Association [JCA]. New ICSA guidance planned on safe crane operation near power lines One of Europe’s leading crane industry experts, Klaus Meissner, has joined the ESTAmanagement team, supporting the work of the organisation’s crane section. Meissner started work for ESTA in April and will hold the title Subject Matter Expert Cranes. He previously led the Demag research and development team in Zweibruecken, Germany, and worked as Director Product Safety Cranes responsible for all Terex Cranes products. He also spent time as head of R&D for Terex Peiner tower cranes. As former president of the FEM product group for mobile cranes - part of the European Materials Handling Federation - he has worked closely with ESTA for many years. Talks are underway with organisations in Portugal and Finland about setting up new ECOL training institutes in the two countries, as ESTA’s crane operator licence scheme continues to make slow but steady progress. ECOL has been formally recognised in five territories to date - Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland and British Columbia in Canada and has also certified independent training institutes in Belgium, British Columbia, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. ESTA Director - and Chair of the ECOL Supervisory Board - Ton Klijn said: “As I have stated before, progress is slower than we would like, but dealing with the bureaucratic requirements of each individual European administration takes time. “Nonetheless, we are moving forward, and we retain the strong support of our members, the crane manufacturers and many of our industry clients.” ECOL talks in Portugal and Finland ESTA launches internship scheme ESTA has announced details of a special internship scheme that will allow all ESTAmember companies - that is full and special members, supporters and affiliates - to send a young employee with management potential to ESTA or a member association for an agreed period of time. The intern will be given a research assignment and will have their board, lodging and travel costs paid by ESTA. Their salary will still be paid by their parent company or organisation. ESTA Director Ton Klijn explained: “The advantage for member companies is that it gives one of their young employees the opportunity to gain international experience and to build up a network of European contacts. “For ESTA, it gives us additional capacity to carry out much-needed research and strengthens our ties with member companies and associations.” ESTA is currently considering applications for the first internship appointments. Leading crane expert Klaus Meissner joins ESTA’s management team