17.02.2003

HSE questions climbing frames for towers

The HSE has released a discussion paper on the safe use of ‘external’ climbing frames on tower cranes. The paper follows a review carried out by the HSE over the collapse of the top a luffing tower crane at Canary Wharf in May 2000, where three of the erection crew were killed.

The accident occurred when an external climbing or jacking frame was used to raise the height of the tower crane. Subsequent reviews of different types of climbing frame used throughout the UK and other similar accidents from around the world has lead the HSE to look into the general safety of the use of such climbing frames.

The paper states that its purpose ‘is to try and identify issues for discussion that are relevant to the design, manufacturer, assembly, use of maintenance of external climbing frames’. The full paper can be found at www.hse.gov.uk. The closing date for discussion is 16 May.