01.12.2014
Best tool for the job?
A reader has sent us a photo of the dismantling of the steel work on the burnt-out Blue room on Eastbourne’s pier in the UK. He asks for opinions on the access equipment/methods being used to carry out the job.
In this case it is a man basket suspended from a 70 tonne Marchetti Sherpa CW70-42L telescopic crawler crane with levelling stabilisers, owned by distributor and rental company AGD Equipment. A lattice boom crawler is being used to lift the steelwork out.
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Two crawler cranes are carrying out the work expected to take eight weeks
The Marchetti is working with full 42 metre main boom and an eight metre extension offset at 40 degrees the crane has between 1.5 and four tonnes – give that it appears to be working with main boom at a relatively high angle the capacity is probably closer to the four tonnes for much of the work. The man basket looks to be a decent example that meets those regulations and standards that exist for this product.
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A closer look at the platform
We think it looks well planned and subject to regular and thorough hoist rope and chain set inspections and a comprehensive risk assessment, not to mention good communications between the platform and operator - it looks as though it might be the most suitable equipment for this job? Working from below is probably not possible, and the question is could a platform capable of working from above have reached?
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The crane is a a 70 tonne Marchetti Sherpa crawler
Good Evening Mr Gallagher,
Thank you for your valuable input, the content of which is noted.
You were doing fine till you reached the point where you told me and the rest of the World to “ Get real and stop looking to find fault with everything”. Wrong, what we look for is Hazards, then when we find them we seek to introduce Control Measures to mitigate the Risk(s) or reduce the possibility of an Incident to As Low as reasonably Practicable ( ALARP) . Please allow me to explain what I mean by this . The HSE will confirm that 133 Men and Women were killed at Work in UK during 2013, with Fatal Falls from Height being the third biggest cause of Fatal Incidents. All of which amounts to circa 20% of all Workplace Fatalities in the UK. So when I saw this Oxy-Acetylene Burning Op at Bournemouth Pier, I was concerned over the safety of these Men working at Height in a Man Basket. However when I then read your defensive reply, my concern increased. So instead of blaming the rest of the World for “ finding fault with everything”. what you should be doing is investigating….
1. How is that Single Hoist Rope Anchored into the Top of that Crawler Cranes Hookblock ?
2. How is the Hoist Winch Drum Powered and is the Multiple-Disk Hoist Brake of the Failsafe type ?
3. What is the Tm2 Imposed Loading on the Crane Mats and are they Adequate for Such Long Boom and Long Radius, on a Beach, with Two Men and Two Gas Bottles in that Man Basket ?
The reason you should investigate these matters is 2 x Men were killed in a Man Basket Fall in California on 30th May 2014 and 6xMen Killed in yet another inherently Dangerous Man Basket Fall in Mexico on 11th June 2014.
Therefore as you know, The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is now a game-changer and changes everything, including Working at Height ?
Worker Safety is my Core Value, please make it the same in your Organisation.
Kind Regards
Mike Ponsonby BA
Looks well planned and risk assessed to me,
Sanyman where would you suggest the burning gear bearing in mind you need access to the presure gauges and shut off valves. I think we should get real and stop looking to find fault with everything.
Woody
I doubt if there is good access onto that section of the pier for a powered access machine and following a fire there is likely to be weight restrictions in place through fear of collapse.
Powered Access is a great way to work safely at height but is not always the right option and certainly isn't the only choice.
Barecat
Not so sure about the basket; toe board missing.
Railing height 1,10 M. seems lower
The Force
All looks well to me, But is that a safe working practise having the burning gear ( flammable ) in the same basket as the men ??? I don't think so !!!!