Safety Advisor needs to learn the english language?

From HSE RIDDOR: Lifting equipment: Incidents involving cranes must be reported irrespective of the nature of the work being done, and reports must not be restricted to those involving lifting and lowering.

The ground moved - the crane became unstable - reportable.

How did he know the ground would support the 60 tonne crane or not ?

IF they had conducted a suitable "Lift Plan" they would have known which is why the issue is now reportable - someone effed up.

Hi Matelot

Schedule 1 of RIDDOR says

Lifting equipment

1.  The collapse, overturning or failure of any load-bearing part of any lifting equipment, other than an accessory for lifting.

On the basis of your narrative the crane did not collapse, overturn or fail, whilst the ground below it is NOT part of the lifting equipment UNLESS you consider that a listing of the crane would fall within the meaning of "overturning", which I don't think it does. 

So, in my book this is NOT a reportable dangerous occurrence.

"lifting equipment" is not defined in RIDDOR, but is defined in LOLER

“lifting equipment” means work equipment for lifting or lowering loads and includes its attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it;

So, suppose you needed to anchor the crane to the ground, I could see a failure of the anchors as being reportable under RIDDOR, but the ground below failing not being reportable.

This is akin to a ring bolt anchorage into stonework as a scaffold tie. I've investigated a scaffold collapse where the ring bolt was drilled too close to the edge of the stonework which gave way, but the incident was reportable due to the scaffold falling down, NOT because the support material failed.

Fully agree that you should understand whether the ground is capable of supporting a crane whose safety is dependent on it. If the ground failure had resulted in the crane overturning then it would be RIDDOR reportable.

This is one of those scenarios where you might consider that the law is an ass, but RIDDOR is full of get outs from what we might reasonably think should be reportable. 

Peter/Chris,

Many thanks both for your informative and thought provoking posts. This is one of those scenarios where an element of doubt definetly exists when interpreting the regulations. Peter has changed my initial viewpoint from initially thinking it was reportable to now not being reportable. 

Collapse - to fall down suddenly because of pressure or having no strength or support: