Minister announces crane safety register

The government is to introduce a statutory register for tower cranes. The move, which comes after ministers had initially rejected the idea, follows pressure from unions and site safety campaigners. The new register has been agreed alongside a package of measures to improve tower crane safety and is likely to be in place by April 2010. Work and pensions secretary James Purnell made the announcement. He said: "It's unacceptable that people are dying directly as a cause of their work with tower cranes and I want to prevent this toll of human misery. It is also important that the package of measures is successful in both improving tower crane safety and improving public confidence in cranes." He added: "HSE will consult with both the industry and the public to agree how both of these ends can best be achieved."

Other measures include working with the industry to improve the competence of those involved in handling tower cranes and carrying out targeted inspection work over the next 12 months. A voluntary system will precede the statutory scheme, and should be in operation later this year. UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie said: "James Purnell should be applauded for his support for a statutory register." He added that the union would continue to press for further improvements. "Erecting tower cranes is highly skilled work," he said. "It is imperative that a specific qualification is introduced. Unskilled workers are potentially placing themselves and others in danger."