Insurer urges brokers to take stock of new risk management document.
Allianz Engineering is urging brokers to take note of new risk management guidelines offering advice on the safe usage of tower cranes, in the light of several fatal accidents and recent prosecutions by the Health and Safety Executive.
The insurer has played a role in the production of the document which offers risk management advice to ensure that tower cranes on UK construction sites are safely erected, maintained, operated and dismantled. A range of best practice guidance has been produced and it is hoped that this will make a real improvement to the health and safety record of the tower crane sector.
Phil Wright, chief engineer, Allianz Engineering, said: “There are around 1500 cranes in the UK and, at any one time, around 1000 of these are in use. Enforcing authorities are becoming more active in this area following the spate of accidents. Brokers can play a crucial roll to help ensure that clients comply with best practice guidelines to reduce employee accidents and fatalities.”
He adds: “Allianz Engineering is proud to have lent its expertise to the creation of this document. Experience shows that these accidents arise through a chain of events, including poor management controls, which eventually lead to equipment failure.”
Last month, two firms were found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, after a 35 tonne truck-mounted telescopic crane overturned. They were each fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,143.
