Since 2000 there have been a number of high profile incidents and deaths involving tower cranes. These have led to public concern over tower crane safety and in 2008 the Work and Pensions Select Committee, inquiring into the work of the HSE, called on HSE to bring forward proposals for a national register.
The UK's lifting regulations, the 1998 Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) require that tower cranes are thoroughly examined by a competent person when they are erected, and then at least every 6 or 12 months (depending on whether they are used for personnel lifts). The new tower crane registration scheme will build on this requirement.
The register is aimed at conventional tower cranes, not self erectors or truck mounted towers.
From 6th April 2010 under the new Regulations, employers (typically the lead contractor on the site where the crane is erected) will need to notify the HSE within 14 days of the performing the thorough examination (TE) required under LOLER. They will be able to submit notification online, via the HSE website http://www.craneregister.org.uk/ .
The HSE needs to be notified of the address where the crane is erected, the name and address of the crane's owners, the details needed to identify the crane, the date of its TE, the details of the employer for whom the TE was performed, and whether any defects posing a risk of serious injury were identified. The full guidance can be downloaded free here
