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Posted By Steve Borrett
Hi all,we are a large Engineering Construction Company on the East Coast of England, we are very susceptible to high winds. we have a number of large crawler type cranes with boom lengths in excess of 300ft we also operate "mewp's".
There are a large number of Scaffolders and steel erectors on site as well all other trades.
I have an irate Safety rep who is insisting that there is a "national " wind speed directive from the "HSE" that "all work stops in wind speeds exceeding 30mph. I believe this to untrue I have asked the "HSE" for guidance but as I suspected there appears to be none.I am aware that all plant and equipment such as cranage and mewps have their own manufacturers recommended limits in windy conditions and location and usage play their own parts in risk assessing usage with the operators discretion also playing a major part.
Does anyone have any info or experience of a so called "national wind speed limit".
We will stop all operations on our site if the wind speed is at a steady 40 or sustained gusts over or approaching this level.
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Posted By Martin Savage
It depends on risk assessment, but if it helps if I tell you most mobile cranes stop work when the wind speed reaches about a steady 21-23mph.
40mph is a very stiff breeze indeed - not sure off the top of my head what it equates to on the beaufort scale but probably something like a F8-9. In those sort of conditions I wouldn't want to be working at height, or using any kind of crane, and certainly wouldn't want to be out at sea!
Gusty conditions are a different story. Because of the unpredictability of gusts it can have all sorts of knock on effects and can cause serious safety issues, despite the "steady" wind speed being relatively low. That's where the risk assessment bit comes in - you have to assess the loads, conditions people are working in (on scaffolding etc) likely consequences of the load swinging, etc.
That's usually a subjective assessment made on site, always best to involve the operatives and crane driver as part of this process. They know best how difficult the weather is making their job.
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Posted By Steve Borrett
Thanks for replies.
Indeed our cranes shut down at around 22mph and our "mewps"at simular windspeeds. Scaffolding and steel erection would also stop at simular speeds dependant on exposure and wind direction. We will "cabin up" at 40mph.
I want to prove a point(prove wrong) a very militant and misinformed employee rep who insists that there is a written "national" limit of 30mph.
Obviously the "HSE" would not impose or give guidance because accidents and incidents could occur in all sorts of weather regardless of windspeed ect.
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Posted By gerry d
I managed a project during 2007 which involved powered access cradles to reclad a large wall. This was in a coastal location with predominantly westerly winds. We had a indicator windspeed of 23mph in place but depending on work location/ wind direction/ gusting/ etc. we sometimes had to stop work at speeds of less than and/or exceeding this figure. Our work activity was always based on effective risk assessment. I would not rely on a specific windspeed acting as a trigger to cease working.
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Posted By Peter Zunda
Safety guides from Facelift and Select Plant for MEWP's both mention a recommended maximum wind speed of 30mph but also that manufacturer's instructions are paramount.
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Posted By seanie
why do you feel you have to justify yourself?
he may well be militant, but i bet he is only doing it to protect the livelihoods of his fellow workers.
please don't try and prove a point, you may well live to regret it.
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Posted By Martin Savage
I can definitely confirm I've never come across any national speed limit as such, much less anything suggesting 30mph.
I think (but others may correct me if I'm wrong) that any recommendations, and I use that word advisedly, are contained in BS7121 part whichever; I think that's where the generally adopted 22mph comes from.
But remember, BS7121 is a British Standard, not a law and much less a HSE instruction.
Hope that helps to clarify.
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Posted By Andrew W
BS7121 only refers to not exceeding the windspeed in the operating instructions for the crane (supplied by the manufacturer) there are no actual windspeed recommendations in there.
Andy
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Posted By FAH
Martin Savage & Gerry D make some excellent points about differentiating between gusts & steady winds.
Steve, why don't you ask the person concerned to provide the evidence that he claims exists [don't hold your breath waiting though!] and ask what relevance there is in quoting a higher limit than the one you've determined as sufficiently unsafe.
Besides, regardless of the approach used, I would consider it far better to use the approach to reinforce the RAs for crane work and the fact that you have a lower max windspeed cut-off than the one quoted at you.
Frank Hallett
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Posted By Ron Hunter
National Federation of Roofing Contractors publication (£10) "Roofing & Cladding in Windy Conditions" is often used as a contractually reference between client and contractor to account for delays due to wind speeds.
No "legal" limit though - just good practice.
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