Rank: Forum user 
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Has anyone else witnessed crane drivers walking around their crane, removing their chains to a box on the crane with no fall prevention is place, I beleive this is common practice, but does not comply with the WAH regs.
Scaffolding externally is not suitable as time consuming! Various sizes of cranes!
They cant use a harness as the crane manufacturer doeas not add anchor points incase of intrapment if the crane were to move!
Soft landing bags are not used as you could hit the outriggers on the way down!
Lots of excuses not to have fall protection but not alot of SSOW, RAMS, TBT Etc
Please let me know your thoughts & experiences of these works
Thank you
MrH&S
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: MrH&  Has anyone else witnessed crane drivers walking around their crane, removing their chains to a box on the crane with no fall prevention is place, I beleive this is common practice, but does not comply with the WAH regs.
Scaffolding externally is not suitable as time consuming! Various sizes of cranes!
They cant use a harness as the crane manufacturer doeas not add anchor points incase of intrapment if the crane were to move!
Soft landing bags are not used as you could hit the outriggers on the way down!
Lots of excuses not to have fall protection but not alot of SSOW, RAMS, TBT Etc
Please let me know your thoughts & experiences of these works
Thank you
MrH&S WHat type of cranes?? Mobile/ Tower/ Crawler????
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Rank: Forum user
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Mobile & Crawler cranes, i hope no one is walking around a tower with no fall protection :), Maybe 1m 1/2 -2m high
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: MrH& Mobile & Crawler cranes, i hope no one is walking around a tower with no fall protection :), Maybe 1m 1/2 -2m high Hence why I asked, I did gasp at the thought it might be a TC!!!
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Rank: Super forum user
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It is and always has been common practice for crane operators to use this method.
They position the hook block over their chain box take one step out of the operating cab,then hook their chains on and step back into their cab. They are on a stable platform and have no need to walk about or do a highland fling in the process.
I am not being sceptical or blasé about this I have just experienced this issue with a major client.
If a crane operator needs to use anything it has to be a fall restraint harness as fall arrest is no use at that height.
The clients Safety Team have come up with a marvelous system!!
The Crane Op stays in his cab and lowers the hook and then a Inertia reel block is fitted to the hook.
One of their operatives then attachés theirself by a fall arrest harness to the block.
They then climb a footed ladder and hook the chains on to the crane hook and return to the ground which is approx 1meter and a half away.
Why should Britain Tremble.
I have no complaints it is a CPA hire it is their operators and equipment and they are happy?
I have trialled it and tested the straight forward system of stepping out hanging the chains on and it can be done with no problems or WAH issues.
In my Opinion this is a safe and straight forward way.
Remember this system is only required on certain cranes as some have chains in side bins.
Hope it helps but please make your own mind up.
Regards Alex
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: MrH& Has anyone else witnessed crane drivers walking around their crane, removing their chains to a box on the crane with no fall prevention is place, I beleive this is common practice, but does not comply with the WAH regs.
Is this one of those tasks that falls (if you'll pardon the pun) under the sfairp banner?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Just an addition to the above i am led to believe the W@H Regs are currently being looked at and will have possible changes come April 2013.
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Rank: Forum user 
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Mr H&S
I was working on a major project when one Saturday morning to tell me a crane drive had fallen of the side of his 100 tone mobile crane total height of fall was 3 meters and landed head first on to the tarmac, and the ambulance was on the way.
When I arrived on site the crane operator was already on the way to the hospital after further investigation and taking statements the operator got out of his cab to put the chains on the hook when he went to get back into the cab as he swung round and lost his grip on the had grip along the cab, luckily he also was wearing his hard hat because he fell onto his feet then went onto his knees then his head hit the floor, his helmet taking most of the impact. He still needed plastic surgery to his forehead but he was very lucky .After a review we instructed the hire company to bring all lifting equipment on a pick up thus removing the risk
Chris
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Rank: Forum user
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Thank you all for your reply, i did recommnd we place the chains into a box on the grounf & this be moved with the pans. i.e using the transport trailer
the crane driver thought this woud take too long & the whole box on crane is for fast & easy de rig & rig..i still beleive the crane manufacurer under CDM has a cse to answer but the crane company has stted they will not entertain them wth adding fall collective measures or harness points.
harness & anersia reel have been rule out due to the fact that the crane is a moving part & their is the potential for entrapment if the person is attached &the crane moves
again, thanks for your thoughts & experiences
MrH&S
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Rank: Super forum user
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Mr H&S I feel you are being misled here you are the customer.
If you are having ballast and pads delivered then you should insist the chains come on the transport.
There is no reason why fall restaint cannot be used, the crane should be locked out or switched off if the Operator is out of the cab.
I do not agree with the use of Inertia Reel and fall arrest it serves no purpose.
The Crane Manufacturer has supplied a crane to CE Standard therefore has fullfilled his duties.
Remember where the chains are stowed is at times required to conform to axle loads Construction and Use Regs and loads more I do not want to bore you with.
Your crib is with the Crane Supplier who should assist you. This does not mean conform to everything a customer wants but work with you to ensure the operation is carried out safely.
At the end of the day I stick by my last post if the Crane Operator carries out the Operation correctly then you have no WAH problems.
Ta and happy hunting Alex
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