The International Crane Stakeholders Assembly – of which ESTA is a member – has agreed to develop new guidance on the safe operation of mobile cranes near power lines.
The ICSA’s move follows publication of the controversial new European Machinery Regulations. The document says that ‘where relevant’, it requires all mobile machinery to be designed to prevent contact with overhead power lines or where the risk cannot be avoided, designed to ensure that all hazards “of an electrical nature” are prevented.
Concerns have also been raised about the issue in Australia. WorkSafe, a government health and safety agency in Western Australia, issued a new health and safety bulletin in May following a number of incidents involving mobile cranes making contact with live overhead power lines.
The ICSA’s new guidance is in addition to its work on the lifting plan guidance document which was announced at the end of last year.
The ICSA’s published technical reports to date are available for free download from either the library section of the ESTA website or from the ICSA at https://icsa-crane.org.
The ICSA is a global organisation dedicated to improving safety and promoting the harmonization of international standards. It currently has seven active members. Apart from ESTA, they are: Association of Equipment Manufacturers [AEM]; Crane Industry Council of Australia [CICA]; Canadian Crane Rental Association of Canada (CCRA); European Federation of Material Handling [FEM]; Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association [SC&RA]; Japan Crane Association [JCA].