CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > August 2024 31 Cranes Alongside Railways PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS Following the completion of the work carried out by a CPA-led working group in collaboration with Network Rail (NR) on their publication; CIV0063: Piling, Drilling, Crane, MEWP, and SMPT operations adjacent to the Railway, the CPA’s crane technical consultant is currently updating CPA Documents; CPA1402: Requirements for Mobile Cranes alongside Railways and CPA1801: Requirements for Tower Cranes alongside Railways. These updates will be reviewed by the working group for amendments prior to their release and are intended to both complement and provide an easier reference to the requirements of the NR CIV0063 publication. Mobile Crane Operator Hours The Crane Interest Group (CIG) are carrying out a survey on mobile crane operator hours in order to update the CPA CIG 2308 publication: Tendering Management & Operation of Mobile Cranes to understand the typical practices in UK mobile crane rental regarding the management of crane operator hours. This survey is crucial for providing guidance to customers and rental companies on minimising incidents related to fatigue. CIG 2308 covers various aspects of mobile crane operations including procurement, legal requirements and safe practices. This document is essential for ensuring compliance with good practice guidelines and statutory requirements, providing a comprehensive framework for mobile crane operations. Wind and Lifting Operations An ongoing CIG development project involves the planning and control of lifting operations in windy conditions. This joint effort with the Tower Crane Interest Group (TCIG) intends to blend theoretical and practical approaches to address the fundamental risks of crane operations in wind. The topics will cover aspects such as load assessment for wind sensitivity, tagline use and the risks of electro-mechanical, below-the-hook, load-handling devices. The project will result in the release of a technical information note (TIN) to highlight the key points. Understanding wind effects on crane operations is critical as even small changes in wind speed can have significant impacts on safety. The finalised TIN will include planning for various wind speeds and their effects on crane stability and load control, emphasising the importance of proper assessment and planning to mitigate risks. ILLAPG Initiatives The CPA Secretarial support being provided to the President and Joint Chairs of the Industry Lead Lifting AP Group (ILLAPG) is proving fruitful and is resulting in several advancements of outputs from the group. The ILLAPG-dedicated website is near to being launched and the concept of a member charter has been approved and due to launch in early 2025. Once operational, the website will host information on upcoming meetings, documents and other relevant content for the group. This platformwill significantly enhance their communication and resource-sharing capabilities. The most recent ILLAPGmeeting took place on 27th June 2024, hosted by Skanska. The meeting was well attended, having over 20 participants in persons and an additional 40 participants joining online. A ‘Hands Off, Step Away, Safe Space’ (HOSASS) video has been filmed onsite at an HS2 location and awaiting the final edit before wide release to industry. The video is part of an industry campaign by the ILLAPG to provide guidance on how slinger/signallers should act after attaching accessories to a load and follows the fatality of a slinger/signaller when a load being lifted became snagged, which then fell onto the slinger. The initial response to the HOSASS initiative has been very positive, indicating its potential impact on improving lifting safety practices. The ILLAPG are also making progress on several schedules of common loads documents. The current common lifts document is due for review at the end of 2024 and will be revamped accordingly. A Piling Lift schedule document is currently being reviewed by the Piling Federation and a publication titled ‘Fit Out, Lift and Shift’ document is expected to be ready in late 2024. A guidance document providing risk assessment and method statement formation for lifting with excavators is nearing completion, marking another significant step to enhance operational safety and efficiency. In addition to these projects, the ILLAPG are in the early stages of developing new initiatives including guidance for the use of tag lines, an anti-collision standard and a slinger/signaller grading system. These initiatives aim to further standardise and improve safety practices across the lifting industry and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in the construction industry. Finalised ILLPAG publications will be able to be downloaded free of charge, either from the ILLPAG section of the CPA website or on the dedicated ILLAPG website when launched.