CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > November 2019 47 Since February 2013, the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group has produced guidance on Medical Fitness to Operate Construction Plant, updated in July 2019. The guidance sets out the criteria for choosing an occupational health service provider and agreeing with them the criteria for assessment, taking account of the person’s role and type of plant. This is supported by other guidance documents such as BS 7121-1:2016 - Safe Use of Cranes which states that: ‘Evidence that the operator is medically fit to operate a crane should be obtained on employment and subsequently at yearly intervals.’ The guidance further states that ‘the type of evidence obtained, e.g. health questionnaire, medical examination, is dependent on the type of crane being operated and the risks to the operator and others involved in the operation.’ However, when approaching occupational health providers, some crane employers have had their operators subjected to the standard LGV Driver medical, aimed specifically at drivers of LGVs, which may well not take account of additional health criteria associated with the operation of a crane or other types of plant. Any additional criteria for plant might include: • The operator’s ability to get across a construction site; • Able to climb steps/ladders to a degree required to access/egress the operator station/cab; • Able to control the machine accurately using standard manufacturer-fitted controls; • Having sufficient acuity of vision (with corrected vision if required) to accurately carry out the range of tasks expected in the time available; • Able to hear with sufficient acuity (with hearing aids if required) to receive instructions and react to verbal and acoustic warnings; • Able to carry out pre-use checks which involved for example; walking, bending, looking, accessing covers etc; • Able to lift and shift heavy loads such as ancillary equipment to prepare plant for use, to the degree required; • Being comfortable with working at height; • Being comfortable with long periods of isolation and sitting in the cab; • Able to concentrate and stay aware for long periods; • The ability to exit the cab in an emergency; • The ability to exit a restricted worksite in an emergency; • Having sufficient level of balance. LGV medical certification may not show sufficient evidence that an operator is medically fit to operate plant and employers should continue to check with their chosen occupational health provider on what form of medical check is being offered, matched against the occupational requirements of the role and specific item of plant. Further information is detailed in the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group’s guidance on Medical Fitness to Operate Plant and can be downloaded free of charge from www.cpa.uk.net/sfpsgpublications Occupational Medical Health Checks for Operating Construction Plant TECHNICAL: 2