Lifting Operations on Construction Sites: Safety Guidelines Summary

1. Lifting Operations on Construction Sites A presentation to Merseyside & Cheshire Construction Safety Group on 12th March 2018 by: John Ellis BSc(Eng),CMIOSH,CMaPS

2. Most common ways of lifting: • Mobile Cranes • Telehandler • Excavator • Hiab

3. Types of Mobile Crane • Truck-mounted crane • All-terrain crane • “City” crane • Self-erecting tower crane

4. Truck-mounted crane

5. All terrain crane

6. “City” Crane

7. Self-erecting tower crane

8. Summary of suitability • Truck mounted-long wheelbase, large turning circle • All terrain-more compact, all wheel steer, highly manoeuvrable • City crane-compact, able to operate in limited headroom areas • Tower crane-large working radius directly adjacent to structures

9. Use crane spec book to decide what size of crane required

11. What factors determine the size of crane needed ? • Maximum weight of load to be lifted (e.g. 3.7 tonnes @ 15m radius) • Maximum working radius (e.g.37m lifting 1.2 tonnes) • Angle of jib in restricted headroom locations

12. Find out and what room it will take up

13. Imposed Loadings • Must be clearly shown on lifting plan as both point load and pressure(e.g. point load=25KN,pressure of 25KN/m2) • Should indicate size of pads being used(typically 1m diameter pads have an area of 0.7m2) • Tables can be used to get approx. loads, or crane hire company will be able to provide more precise detail

14. Ensure ground bearing pressures acceptable • Provided details of imposed loadings to the site (in writing) • Obtain written confirmation from the site that the ground is capable of withstanding the loads • May need CBR tests to be undertaken • May need additional measures to reduce pressures to an acceptable level e.g. steel plates,sleepers,mats

15. Produce a detailed lifting plan

16. Lift plan should indicate: • Crane access and locations • Crane size and lifting equipment • Berthing study (rigger spread) • Imposed loadings • Position of delivery wagons • Directions of slew • Positions of new/existing buildings • Location of any specific hazards

17. Set the crane up in accordance with the plan

18. Planning must be done by a competent person (appointedperson)

19. Supervision • Supervision done by the appointed person • Or, if not, then by a qualified crane supervisor • Directing the crane is done by a qualified banksman who agrees a means of communication with the crane driver • Slinging is undertaken by trained slingers • Crane driven by suitably competent operator

20. Summary • Select suitable type of crane • Select right size of crane for the job • Understand how a crane works • Ensure all involved in the planning and operation are competent

21. Don’t have the required Skills,Knowledge,Experience ? • You must arrange for a “Contract Lift” • A reputable crane hire company will visit the site and do all the necessary planning • They will provide relevant documentation for the lift including a lift plan • On the day they will provide crane driver and crane supervisor/banksman • They will also provide appropriate lifting tackle(chains,slings,etc.)

22. What can go wrong? • Crane exceeds safe working capacity • SWL of lifting accessories exceeded • Imposed rigger loadings exceed ground bearing capacity • Structural failure of crane and/or lifting accessories (due to lack of maintenance) • Operation in adverse weather conditions • Communication failures

26. Waikato Crane Incident

27. Telehandlers

28. Requirements • Driver must have appropriate skills, knowledge & experience(e.g. CPCS for type & size of telehandler) • Operate on firm & level ground when placing/removing loads (e.g. designated stoned up area) • Suitable reversing mirrors & cameras • Use of stabilizers when required

29. Excavators

30. Types of excavator • Back-hoe excavator • Mini excavator • Tracked excavator

31. Requirements • Driver to have necessary skills, knowledge & experience for type & size of excavator • Driver to have suitable knowledge & training in attachments (e.g. manual quick hitch, semi-automatic quick hitch, automatic quick hitch • Suitable reversing mirrors and cameras to enable driver to see persons at rear

32. Hiabs

33. Requirements • Driver with suitable skills, knowledge & experience • Set up on firm & level ground capable of withstanding rigger loadings • All riggers to be fully extended

34. Statutory Requirements for Lifting Plant LOLER Regulations require that all plant used for lifting has undergone thorough examination & inspection by a competent person within previous 12 months …..but if being used for lifting persons (e.g. man-rider cage attached to forklift) then must be within previous 6 months

35. Lifting tackle • Chains (e.g. 2 legged 10mm chains,SWL 4.25 tonnes) • Web slings or wire slings • Grabs of lifting booms • Lifting clutches (e.g. modform lifters) All must be maintained in good condition and should be visually inspected each day before lifting operations commence

36. Using chains or slings in choked position

37. Requirements • Capacity of the choked chains must be downrated by 20% • i.e. 2 legged Chains with SWL of 4.25 tonnes can only be used to lift a maximum load of 3.4 tonnes

38. Angle between chains/straps should not exceed 90 degrees

39. Statutory Requirements • All lifting accessories to have undergone thorough examination and inspection by competent person within the previous 6 months (as per LOLER Regulations)

40. Guidance • BS7121 Part 3:Code of Practice for Safe use of Cranes

41. BS7121 Overview

42. Guidance on best practice for:

43. Lift Categories

44. Lift Categorisation

45. Contract Options

46. Construction Plant-hire Association www.cpa.uk.net

47. .

48. HSE Guidance • L113 :Safe Use of Lifting Equipment ACOP • L22:Safe Use of Work Equipment • INDG290:Lifting Equipment at Work-a Brief Guide • INDG422:Thorough Examination of Lifting Equipment • HSG144:Safe Use of Vehicles on Construction Sites • HSG150:Health & Safety in Construction

49. Any questions ?