As a former HM Principal Specialist Inspector of Health and Safety (Mechanical Engineering) at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Vaughan Cole CEng FIMechE has been involved in hundreds of regulatory cases. Combining a wealth of knowledge and experience on safety matters, Vaughan will be continuing his involvement as chair of the Institution’s seminar in September, which brings together engineers, crane operators, compliance and risk analysts and senior construction professionals.
Q: What are the benefits of attending Crane Safety 2017?
A: Lifting safety is an area in which the challenges do not go away, nor do they remain consistent. This seminar brings opportunities to meet, discuss, share challenges and understand current and upcoming issues with peers and industry experts.
The inaugural seminar, in 2016, was a great success and I have no doubt that this year’s content will be of great interest to those who attended before, as well as those joining us for the first time. HSE’s Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) tells engineers what they need to know to be compliant but in reality we must be operating well above the bottom line.
Q: What’s new for 2017?
A: This year we have emphasised interactivity and have built in ‘round-table’ sessions. This provides opportunities for attendees to discuss their work and raise questions about the issues important to them. I think it’s hugely valuable to have face-to-face contact with peers, with those at the forefront of the sector and those with key specialisms, to complement the advice you put into practice each day in your safety and compliance role.
We will be assessing key challenging projects and technological innovations in lifting operations, such as issues for offshore decommissioning and high risk environments; and discussing the human factor and regulations.
Q: What do you consider the highlights of this year’s seminar?
A: Safety and risk management dominate our ability to undertake exacting lifting projects and the innovative solutions found are taking the industry forward. We’ll have an update on the vast demolition project currently happening at Earls Court, which has the largest capacity crane ever used in London. It’s a pioneering project and a fascinating opportunity to hear from Keltbray about whether things are going as expected.
Q: What are the main risks in this sector?
A: Crane use and design has developed significantly over recent decades and these rapid developments and applications show no sign of abating in the face of new challenges.
We are dealing with a global market, global resources and varied standards. In the end, it’s about prevention of accidents because accidents involving massive collapse may involve multiple fatalities. Training, competence and the avoidance of complacency are vital.
When I visit central London, I am astonished at the amount of vertical construction going on. The risks are increasing not least because more tower cranes are operating over a greater density of people.
Q: Where do you foresee both changes and consistency in the future?
A: Someone is going to invent a crane that you really didn’t expect! We appreciate that more technology will support more versatile and complex lifting equipment but the actual form of a new design or failure of well-tried design may be the source of unfortunate surprises.
What we come back to is that technology – the computers and application of regulations – is only as good and reliable as the humans involved. That isn’t going to change. Our challenge is staying ahead of the demands of compliance, never being complacent. That message is emphasised by many of the speakers in our seminar.
Q: What are your top tips in a lifting operation?
A: My mantra is always, ‘be very careful’. The human factor is key. Who does what is very important, something we examine in a presentation about continuous improvement by Mark Blundy from Bowmer and Kirkland.
There are so many factors, from design to infrastructure, supply, and the continued use of equipment, to thwart our industry’s constant mission of a successful project undertaken with the highest standards of safety.
Lifting operations are always going to present a challenge and catch you out, unless you keep one – but preferably more than one – step ahead of the game.