Research Project Presentation Steve Howarth

Presentation Outline  Project Title  Project Hypothesis  Project Background  Project Objectives  Research Method  Scope of the Research  Survey Results  Literature Review  Conclusion  Recommendations  Benefits of the Research

“The development and implementation of an effective management and monitoring system, to ensure that cranes comply with statutory requirements”. Project Title

“The non-compliance to statutory requirements will decrease upon the implementation of the inspection regime” Hypothesis

In January, 2001, the Labour Department conducted a survey of the cranes and lifting appliances on the KCRC’s West Rail project. Project Background It was found that 34% of the cranes were not fitted with an automatic safe load indicator, or if fitted, it was not functioning correctly.

Shanghai

Project Objectives To develop an inspection and enforcing system for ensuring compliance to the statutory requirements; To implement the system;

To revise and improve the system, following comments from those concerned in the implementation, and Project Objectives (cont) To review the effectiveness of the system, in ensuring compliance to statutory requirements.

Scope of the Project  KCRC’s, West Rail and East Rail Extensions projects;  23 construction sites;  Surveys conducted monthly over a 6 month period, May – Oct, 2001;  All cranes.

Research Method Participatory Action Research (PAR) based on Lewin’s Cyclic Model

Review  Conduct a survey of all cranes being used on the 2 projects to establish if there is a high rate of non- compliance to statutory requirements.

Plan  Review the Hong Kong Legislation to identify what the statutory requirements are;  Develop an inspection checklist;

 Train the surveyors to use the inspection checklist; Plan (cont)  Conduct a survey of all the cranes being used on the 2 projects to establish if there was a problem with the statutory compliance.

Act  The Hong Kong Legislation was reviewed and 12 statutory requirements were identified;

Form 1. Report of Results of Weekly Inspection of Lifting Appliances Form 2. Certificate of Test and Thorough Examination of Anchoring or Ballasting of Cranes Form 3. Certificate of Test and Thorough Examination of Cranes, Crabs and Winches Form 4. Certificate of Test and Thorough Examination of Lifting Appliances (Except Cranes, Crabs and Winches) Form 5. Lifting Appliances Certificate of Thorough Examination in the Preceding Twelve Months ASLI not fitted or not functioning properly Obstructed view Safe working load markings Jib angle indicator fitted Anti- collision device fitted Over hoist limit switch fitted Safety latch fitted on the hook Statutory Requirements

 The inspection checklist was developed by a team of staff; Act (cont)

 The surveyors were trained to use the inspection checklist; Act (cont)  A survey was conducted of all the cranes being used on the 2 projects.

Results of the Initial Survey 12.32% 0% 339 cranes were Inspected: 276 WR 63 ERE

6 more surveys were conducted using the PAR method

Results of the 2nd Survey

Results of the 6 th & Final Survey

Example of an Inspection Item Survey Result – Form 1, Non Compliance

24,828 items were inspected

Summary of the Results by Project

Summary of the Results by Item

No’ of Cranes Inspected by Month Total 2,069

Types of Cranes Inspected

Literature Review Hong Kong Safety Legislation; Crane and Lifting Appliance Legislation in Hong Kong; Crane and Lifting Appliance Legislation in Other Countries; Safety Management; Risk Perception; Human Behavior; Supervisors Role, and Senior Managers Role.

Conclusion The inspections and the inspection checklist were successful in reducing the number of non-conformances; The survey has identified areas of weakness in the safety management systems of the Contractor; There is no penalty system in place, other than from the Contractor, for the operator.

“The non-compliance to statutory requirements will decrease upon the implementation of the inspection regime” Conclusion - Hypothesis TRUE – The results show that the number of non-conformances did decrease following the implementation of the inspection regime.

Recommendations Incorporate the inspection checklist into a safety procedure for all sites; Continue the inspections and continue to record and report the non-conformances; Implement effective Contractor safety management systems to ensure statutory compliance;

Discuss with the Labour Department and the operator’s license issuing authority, the non- conformances and discuss measures for improvement; Recommendations (cont) Make the safety procedure available to other projects in Hong Kong.

Benefits from the Research Improved compliance to statutory requirements; Elimination of crane incidents; Increased inspections and monitoring; Formalised inspection procedure;

Improved quality of the inspections; Is now being used on other non KCRC projects Standardised inspection procedure; Benefits from the Research (cont)

Questions