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Tower crane A04 Learning for CPCS

Outcomes


Through a combination of targeted training and experience, an individual with the Tower crane will be able to:


Roles and responsibilities

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  • Describe the nature of the sector of industry and their role and responsibilities as a plant operator

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Preparing for work

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  • Name and explain the purpose of principal components, the basic construction, controls and terminology

  • Conform with manufacturer’s requirements as per the operator’s handbook, other types of information source and relevant regulations and legislation

  • Explain all relevant documentation

  • Undertake all pre-use checks and place the crane into service

  • Follow and carry out procedures that must be taken to access the structure/base for inspection and maintenance purposes

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Setting up for work

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  • Configure the crane for lifting duties

  • Explain the reasons for changing the number of falls of rope

  • Explain action required for hazards and overhead services

  • Explain various types of lifting accessories

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Working tasks

 

  • Identify that loads are safe to lift, ensuring load balance, security and integrity

  • Lift various loads using the full radius and slewing capabilities of a crane

  • Accurately place loads

  • Minimise the swinging of loads

  • Move loads through crane travel (where applicable) – Endorsements A & B

  • Comply with signals and instructions

  • Maintain safe working situations

  • Explain how the wind (and other weather conditions) can affect loads being lifted with regards to pedestrian safety on the ground

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Shutting down

 

  • Carry out out-of-service and securing procedures

Syllabus

Learning Outcome

Training Content

Describe the nature of the sector of industry and their role and responsibilities as a plant operator

  • Industry type

  • Customer / client needs

  • Sector contribution

  • Role

  • Cab hygiene and environmental issues (Endorsements A & B)

  • Social responsibilities

  • Lifelong skills

  • Reporting structures

  • Communication with colleagues / management / other trades

  • Health and Safety at Work Act

  • Environmental issues

  • Other trades

  • Working practices

Name and explain the purpose of principal components, the basic construction, controls and terminology

  • Differing Types

  • Functions and applications

  • Power units / drive systems

  • Electrical systems

  • Stability / bases / mountings

  • Counterweights

  • Jibs / trolleys

  • Hoisting gear / ropes

  • Construction

  • Erection / dismantling process

  • Safety systems

  • Slewing arrangements

  • Attachments

  • Connection methods (structures)

Conform with manufacturer’s requirements as per the operator’s handbook, other types of information source and relevant regulations and legislation

  • Operator’s Manual

  • Duties Charts

  • Machine decals

  • Health and Safety at Work Act

  • PPE

  • Codes of Practice

  • Site plans / drawings

  • Lifting requirements and limitations

  • Lift plans

  • Method statements

  • Risk assessments / COSHH

  • Inspection and reporting forms / procedures

Explain all relevant documentation

  • Test certificates

  • Thorough examination certificates

Undertake all pre-use checks and place the crane into service

  • Regular and non-scheduled maintenance procedures

  • Environmental restrictions

  • Access / egress (to the cab) (Endorsement A & B)

  • Sequence of pre-use checks

  • Defect reporting

  • Personnel exclusion

Follow and carry out procedures that must be taken to access the structure/base for inspection and maintenance purposes

  • Accessing

  • Harnessing / Security

  • Retrieval

  • Authority / approval

  • Working at height

Configure the crane for lifting duties

  • Required configuration (lift plan)

  • Lift controls

  • Environmental conditions

  • Site procedures

  • Hazards

Explain reasons for changing the number of falls of rope

  • Duties

  • Load capacity / line speeds

  • Limitations

  • Different methods

  • Types

Explain actions required for hazards and overhead services

  • Types of typical services / hazards

  • Warning / identification systems

  • Reporting procedures for damage to services

  • Minimum distances and clearances

  • Inter-arcing

  • Motion limiters

  • Multiple crane use / crane co- ordination

Explain various types of lifting accessories

  • Lifting equipment (crane) capacity

  • Lifting accessory capacity

  • Required type or types

  • Load weight

  • Lifting accessory weight

  • SWL / WLL

  • Lift plan

  • Additional accessories

  • Load characteristics – loose, bundled, fluid loads etc.

  • Sling angles

  • De-rating

Identify that loads are safe to lift, ensuring load balance, security and integrity

  • Trial lifts

  • Stability

  • C of G / balance

  • Netting / sheeting

  • Fluid loads

  • Load surface area

  • Environmental conditions / wind effects

Lift various loads using the full radius and slewing capabilities of a crane

  • Duties charts

  • Lifting accessories and

    slinging requirements

  • Lift plans

  • Lifting controls

  • Jib deflection

  • Signalling / following instructions

  • Hazards

  • Stability

  • Trial lifts

  • Load stability / security

  • Visibility

  • Environmental conditions / wind effects

  • Load swings

  • Falls of rope

Accurately place loads

  • Ground conditions / hazards

  • Visibility

  • Stability

  • Load swings

  • Signalling / following instructions

  • Out-of-sight lifts

  • Protection of lifting accessories

Minimise the swinging of loads

  • Rope length

  • Techniques

  • Observation / anticipation

  • Stability

  • Environmental

  • Slew speeds

Move loads through machine travel (where applicable) – Endorsements A & B

  • Duties charts

  • Configuration

  • Stability

  • Route / ground condition

  • Load swing

  • Load integrity / security

  • Visibility

  • Hazards

  • Regulations / legislation

Comply with signals and instructions

  • Methods and types of signals

  • Methods of verbal instruction

  • Multiple signalling

  • Electronic communication / setting-up

  • Codes of Practice

  • Radio protocol

Maintain safe working situations

  • Stability

  • Load swings

  • Load security

  • Hazards

Explain how the wind (and other weather conditions) can affect loads being lifted with regards to pedestrian safety on the ground

  • Load area

  • Effect on radius

  • Wind speeds measuring

  • Load handling

  • Hazards

Carry out out-of-service and securing procedures

  • Shut down procedures

  • Environmental / excessive winds

  • Jib positioning / free braking

  • Security

Note: The listed training content should not be considered exhaustive and subjects may be added to reflect the individuals’ working environment.

Safety Critical

Topic

Empasis

  • Tidiness of the work area/good housekeeping (Endorsement C)

Ensuring that area of operation is organised and of suitable ground so that slips, trips & falls are minimised, and that materials are suitably and safely stored

  • Remote control operation (Endorsement C)

Isolating of all operating controls when using a remote unit, when carrying out other functions or during rest periods

  • Lift plans / method statements

Lift plan types and requirements and the need for lift planning Adherence to the lift plan as constructed by a competent person

Duration / Ratios

To allow effective learning, these training times are recommended for this category. Candidates must be profiled to establish learning needs. Durations should be of a length to ensure the learning outcomes are met.

Experience

Accumulated hours

  • Novice operators with no industry or machine experience
     

70 (35)*

  • Novice operators with industry experience but no machine experience

63 (28*)

  • Operators with unrelated (lifting) machine experience
     

42 (21)*

  • Operators with similar (lifting) machine experience

28 (14)*

All candidates must have received the equivalent to 7 hours of site safety and induction training

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To allow effective learning, the listed candidate / machine / instructor ratio is the maximum recommended for this category

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  • 4 candidates : 2 machines: 1 instructor (Endorsements A & B)

  • 3 candidates : 1 machine: 1 instructor (Endorsement C)

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* Endorsement C

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Resources

Practical equipment

Theory equipment

  • Remote or Cab controlled Tower Crane that meets current legislation

  • Operator’s manual for the crane

  • Different types of loads

  • Lifting accessories

  • Sufficient area of ground suitable for placing loads at various heights and radius

PLUS

  • Suitable PPE

  • Risk assessment for all areas where training is  occurring

  • PUWER 1998 Regulations

  • LOLER 1998 Regulations

  • BS 7121 (parts 1, 2 and 4)

  • HSE GS6

  • Operator’s Manual

  • CPA Tower Crane TIN (Technical Improvement Notes) – downloadable from www.cpa.uk.net

  • Specifications for types of remote or cab controlled tower cranes

PLUS

  • Suitable room for theory training purposes Welfare and rest facilities during training

Category description and types

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CPCS defines a category as an item of plant or equipment used within the construction or allied industries and worked in accordance with the manufacturer’s basic design. Although this category can have varying uses within industry, for CPCS training and assessment standards, the descriptions reflect basic core use. Endorsements are sub-categories that reflect the variations for this category by type. This category has three endorsements.

To identify a machine within this category, a typical remote controlled or cab controlled tower crane would normally have the listed features and be used within the described characteristics.

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Category features

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  • Latticed free-standing or secured tower structure (all)

  • 360 degree rotating top-slewing latticed upper structure containing the operating position; power units and winches (Endorsements A & B)

  • Winch operated lifting metal-stranded hoist rope mounted on pulleys

  • Hook block suspended by hoist ropes and pulleys

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Category characteristics

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  • Lift loads by vertically raising the hook block

  • Moves and places loads by using a combination of slew and linear motions within the confines of the operating radius, depth and height

  • Operated from ground level by remote or pendant control unit (Endorsement C)

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Endorsement characteristics

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  • Endorsement A: Trolley jib – Cab Controlled - lattice jib with radius changing ability by moving a trolley running on the jib. The hook block is vertical with the trolley

 

  • Endorsement B: Luffing jib – Cab Controlled - jib with radius changing ability by raising or lowering the jib from horizontal. The hook block is vertical with the end of the jib

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  • Endorsement C: Trolley jib - Remote controlled - lattice jib with radius changing ability by moving a trolley running on the jib. The hook block is vertical with the trolley.

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