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Find out more about Crane Safety 2022 at the event website.
Please could you briefly explain your role, involvement and experience with regards to Crane Safety
Craig Hook (CH): I run Sir Robert McAlpine’s Lifting Solutions Department. We review the SRM tenders and pick the lifting arrangements, usually tower cranes and then plan for their erection / dismantle. We also offer general lifting advice within he business and train broadly through SRM about what good lifting practice is for cranes and non-crane lifting. I also sit on a number of standards committees in the UK (BS7121 – safe use of lifting equipment) and Europe (EN14439 – design of tower cranes).
What are the main challenges facing the industry at the moment?
CH: Non-crane lifting – people are getting very innovative at using telehandlers or excavators and lorry loaders, but are they addressing all of the hazards properly. Is there a proper plan in place to address all of the risks… but do the people understand all of the risks?
What are your top tips when tackling a new lifting challenge?
CH: Keep it simple – ask fundamental questions – what is the load, what is the envt, why are you using that piece of equipment? Is the constraint you are saying is important a real constraint or can we simplify our lives?
What are your top tips for everyday lifts?
CH: Have you got all of the correct equipment available or will you be scrabbling around trying to make something sub-optimal work? Are the team briefed, including where to stand and take it steady!
What developments in the crane industry either technology or techniques, are you most interested in for the future and why?
CH: Using the data lake to make lifting ops better planned. In two ways: 1) I have an amazing dream that is starting to come into reality to look at crane utilisation data and compare it with actual wind speed data so that we can see when certain lifting operations are actually being winded off – wind sensitive loads and 2) Taking the tower crane anemometer wind speed and using it to make a local correction to the Met Office forecast so that we can see when the crane will be unable to lift certain loads…. linking this to look ahead programmes. The proof of concept is currently happening at HS2 – Align currently. So exciting to see 5 years of conversations starting to happen.
Why is it important for engineers to join this year’s Crane Safety seminar?
CH: It is amazing what you can learn when you come with an open-mind and hear topics that you know nothing about.
Crane Safety 2022 will take place on 13 September in London
Join us at the Institution's London Headquarters in September to address the key challenges involved carrying out with safe crane operations. Presentations will cover recent lifting projects across a wide variety of projects and industries, together with technical insights and industry best practice to reduce the risk of incidents, maintain compliance with standards and make the most of new and novel technologies: full details and registration at www.imeche.org/cranesafety.