"The cranes should raise objects, not people"
July 12, 2011
The International Federation of motorized access (Ipaf - International Powered Access Federation) has welcomed the position paper issued by the Group of products for cranes and lifting equipment of the FEM (Fédération Européenne the Manutention), which States that cranes must not be used to elevate people, except in exceptional circumstances in which the relevant security measures had been taken and held under the specific responsibility of the user.
FEM (Fédération Européenne the Manutention) is the European Association for the materials handling equipment manufacturers. In its position paper dated May 16, 2011 (document FEM CLE MC N 0284), the products group for cranes and lifting equipment of the FEM declares: "mobile cranes not be used never recreational purposes, for example, for lifting people in shows, elastic breaks, meals in suspension at high altitude or elevation of structures with people over or under the same (for example)"(, elevation of tents). Mobile cranes are not intended to raise people; "they can be used to hang in nacelles staff only in exceptional situations, when it is the safest way to do the work".
Safety first
The position paper echoed an earlier statement from the Association of crane motorcades and Pallas mechanical (PCSA), belonging to the AEM and based in USA, which says: "the cranes are not designed, designed or manufactured to operate on staff, whether construction work or recreational activities." "They have been designed to raise objects, not people".
The PCSA is one of the groups of products for the equipment manufacturers Association (AEM), organization that has more than 800 members. The previous statements to respond to a potentially dangerous trend whereby some entrepreneurs use cranes to raise people to high-altitude recreational meals in suspension at high altitude and elastic jumps.
In a show of support for the clarification of the WEF, IPAF CEO Tim Whiteman says aerial platforms built for a specific purpose to represent "an infinitely more secure and accurate mode" to provide access to the execution of specific work at height. "Compare this to a log suspended from a crane by means of a single string, which can antagonize the wind." "The cranes should be used to raise charges and not people".
They think the manufacturers
Various manufacturers of cranes clearly prohibit its use for these purposes, as reflected in the following excerpts of manuals for crane operators:
"The correct use of the crane is limited to the raising of charges." "Raising personal do not form part of own crane using". (Liebherr)
"The abuse includes (...)" "the use for any type of sport or recreational activity, in particular for elastic jumps". (Grove/Manitowoc cranes)