New crane register confirmed

The Health and Safety Executive that a new statutory crane register will be introduced in April 2010.The decision to introduce a statutory tower crane register was made at the HSE’s Board Meeting held last week.

The move has been welcomed by construction union UCATT which has been at the forefront of the campaign to introducea statutory register of tower cranes.

General secretary Alan Ritchie said: “A statutory tower crane register is a major step forward for construction safety.The truth is that there were many people in the industry who did not want to see a statutory register come intobeing. If it had not been for the campaigning of UCATT and the safety groups, the register would not have seen thelight of day.”

The HSE’s decision to support a statutory tower crane register follows an industry-wide consultation exercise undertakenearlier this year.