The Land Transport Rule worktime and logbook amendment 2009 was issued on the 1st April 2009 and provides an exemption by vehicle type through inserting an amendment to Clause 4.4 of the Rule  by inserting the following subclause:
"4.4(9)  The driver of a mobile crane does not have to maintain a logbook. [Note: "Mobile Crane" is a defined term.]"

Read the full amendment here ​

The attached Safety Alert is an internal document that Leighs Construction has shared with industry.

On the 7th of June 2017, at Christchurch Hospital a sling failed on a lift shortly followed by a second sling causing a steel frame to drop onto the AC100 crane doing the lift. Fortunately there were no injuries.
​Leighs Construction released a safety alert and that alert can be downloaded here

​WorkSafe has advised through on-site observation that there is an increasing trend where crane operators do not have lift plans when carrying out lifts
Just a reminder that the lift plan should be reviewed on the site before commencing the lift by all persons involved in the lift
Ref: Crane Safety Manual Section 9, Part B, Pg 4.

There is also a trend to a lesser extent where operators are not carrying out pre-start checks.
Crane operators are responsible for carrying out pre-start checks in accordance with:

• PECPR Regulations; 
• Approved Code of Practice for Cranes;
• Crane manufacturers Instructions; and
• Company Procedures

Ref: Crane Safety Manual Section 2, Part E, Pg 2.

If there is an incident where the operator does not have a lift plan, or pre-start checks were not carried out then the company may be liable for not exercising due diligence and failing to comply with their duty and obligations.
Ref: Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 Section 44 (1) and Section 44 (4)(c).
 
Just a reminder that the Association provides lift plan pads through the Crane Shop (www.shop.cranes.org.nz) 

Congratulations to Tidd Ross Todd Ltd on their 50th year anniversary.
​This is a significant achievement for longevity in the crane industry.
Tidd Ross Todd Ltd is one of the original associate members that joined the Power Crane Association in August 1975.

​Mamut de Colombia building a new metro line in Panama City using several Liebherr mobile cranes
·         LTM 1500-8.1 and LTM 1400-7.1 used in tandem.
·         Hoisting work only possible during the night
·         1640 U-shaped beams to be installed by the end of 2018.
 
Ehingen/ Donau (Germany) March 2017 – Colombian crane contractor Mamut de Colombia is currently working on the construction of metro line 2 in Panama City. This involves two Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 mobile cranes and a Liebherr LTM 1400-7.1 crane hoisting a total of 1640 U-shaped concrete beams weighing up to 161 tonnes onto prefabricated pillars by the end of 2018.
The current population of Panama City, the capital of Panama, is around 3.35 million people. To date, Panama City has only had a single metro line. As a result of heavy traffic and the resulting pollution, Panama City council decided to build a second metro line. This will have a total length of 21 km and will run between San Miguelito and Nuevo Tocumen. There will be 16 stations along the full route with links to existing bus lines and taxis. When it is completed, the metro line will be able to carry 16,000 passengers per hour.
As a result of the heavy traffic during the day, the U-shaped beams measuring 20 and 30 metres in length and five metres in width, have to be hoisted into place during the night. As from 10 pm the main road is closed and the men from Mamut move the assembled mobile cranes into position. A maximum of two U-shaped beams can be hoisted into place and installed during a night shift which lasts until 5 am.
Mamut de Colombia, based in Tocancipa near Bogotá operates around 50 cranes. Its main activities comprise crane work and heavy haulage for industry and the electrical, mining, oil and construction trades.

CEO of the Association was interviewed today on a segment about the construction boom and need for experienced crane operators

Safety Alert - Product Recall for IWR Bow Shackles & Pins.
The range of recall are rated at working limit WLL 1T to WLL 25T

Open Product Recall Here 

The latest workshop was held at the Auckland Airport Novotel Hotel on Monday 7th November.
There were two sessions on the day. The morning session looking at the China crane market delivered by John Stewart,  ‎Senior VP Sales & Marketing / GM at Manitowoc Cranes and the afternoon session on importing cranes into New Zealand delivered by Mike Brown, MD of Transport Specifications Ltd.
 We thought we had housing problems in Auckland but Shanghai has experienced 51% growth in the last 10 years and now has a population of 25 million. In contrast Auckland has only experienced 14% growth for the same period.

It was pointed out by Mike Brown that there are a broad variety of crane descriptions depending on the legislation you are reading and the most complex is the road legislation. Why haven't we followed international trends and segregated cranes from the road fleet?

​There will be more information and copies of the presentations put online in the members area in the very near future.