Safety In The Construction Industry

A consultation on the proposed regulation of tower cranes has been launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in response to a number of deaths involving the machines this decade.

Acknowledging public concern over the deaths, in 2008 the Work and Pensions Select Committee called on the HSE to bring forward proposals for a national register.

The regulations would demand employers using site-assembled tower cranes provide the HSE with information about the machine. The information would then be put on a public register.

Running until October, the consultation will gather feedback on the scope of the proposed regulations.

Employers' views on how the information should be submitted for the register and whom the information will be available to are also sought.

It also wants feedback on the costs and benefits of the proposed legislation - as outlined in the impact assessment.

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David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "I welcome the proposals for the crane register. We have recently seen an appalling number of industrial accidents involving tower cranes.

“It needs to be remembered that the construction industry is the industrial sector where a worker is most likely to lose his life following a work accident.

“The operation of cranes poses a potential risk not just to workers but to the public and its imperative that crane use is safe.

“I would urge the regulations be brought in a swiftly as possible.”