Safety alert following tower crane collapses
Medical and Safety Executive has issued a security aware of a pursuing the recent collapse of three luffing jib tower cranes in high winds.
The HSE is warning that cranes have to be left in free slew when unattended to help them to pull in high winds.
The alert states: ��HSE has identified that some tower crane users weren’t releasing the slew brake and/or placing the jib at the correct from service radius, when leaving cranes outside of service and unattended.
��This can end in high loadings being designed into the crane with all the consequential collapse of the jib or perhaps the whole crane.��
��If luffing jib cranes remain beyond service while using the slew brake engaged and/or even the jib parked at too small a radius, you will find there’s possibility the used tower cranes will not be in a position to weathervane freely in high winds.
The HSE has additionally issued a checklist for crane owner/operators:
Ensure they have got probably the most accurate, informed information for your specific crane they may be operating by discussions or correspondence while using the supplier or manufacturer as some manufacturers have recently changed their guidance;
Make certain such information includes the right minimum away from service radius for that specific crane they are operating while using supplier or manufacturer;
Check both after erection and periodically operating, the function from the device that releases the slew brake and places the crane in free slew;
Check both after erection and periodically operating, the setting and function of any devices that warn the operator the crane jib has not been left parked for the correct outside of service radius and/or even the slew brake is not released;
Ensure that operators happen to be forwarded to instructions regarding how the used tower cranes needs to be placed in free slew as well as the correct radius where the jib must be positioned when leaving the crane unattended. This could include measures to routinely make sure that the operators understand and are adopting the instructions provided;
Check both after erection and periodically operating, which the condition in the slew drive motors, gearboxes and slew ring bearing has not yet deteriorated towards extent that the crane is prevented from slewing freely;
Undertake periodic checks that this buildings under construction, other cranes or high reach plant aren’t preventing the crane from free slewing. Consideration ought to be inclined to both front jibs and rear counter jibs.