Quay cranes safety guidance updated

Property, equipment and liability insurance provider TT Club, the Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA) and ICHCA International have released Revision 1 of the ‘Recommended Minimum Safety Features for Quay Container Cranes’ document as an update to the original document published in 2011.

The publication calls for a new approach to the crane procurement process in order to recognise safety as an integral part of operational decisions that will minimise exposure to injury, damage and disruption costs over the life cycle of the equipment.

Minimising risk

The recommended minimum safety features directly address the causes of accidents and failures identified by TT Club from its claims records. Some of these include damage caused by high winds, damage caused by collision and risk of fire.

To help deal with wind, driven braking system and anemometer design and operational controls with an appropriate shutdown function are recommended. The installation of storm pins as well as crane tie-downs on each corner of the crane is also advised.

The installation of radar or laser electronic sensors can minimise the risk of collision. Integrated appropriately into the operational systems, this technology allows the crane to come to a ‘normal’ stop prior to impact.

Installing temperature and smoke detection systems, providing alarms for all relevant operational staff and automatic fire suppression is also recommended.

The intention of the ‘recommendations’ is to urge suppliers to include as standard, not optional, the baseline safety features on this list in all their quotations for container quay cranes.

By Rebecca Jeffrey