Malta OHSA on crane safety
19 June 2013
Earlier in May, the Malta Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work organised a seminar on crane safety.
The half day seminar covered issues including, crane erection and examination. It was for owners, erectors and examiners of cranes. The seminar was held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana, Malta.
Opening the event was Vincent Attard, senior manager at OHSA. Presentations were then given by Kevin Gauci, principal officer at OHSA on the local legislation and enforcement on the operation of cranes, and Joachim Schulz, member of DGUV Expert Committee Construction Industry of Germany. Schulz was the main speaker in this seminar and he delivered two presentations, one on the safe erection of tower cranes and another on the examination of cranes on sites.
Dr Godfrey Farrugia, the Hon Minister for Health, closed the seminar with a speech emphasising the importance of examinations, with particular reference to the safe operation of crane equipment. He also mentioned discussions at EU level regarding a minimum standard of competence of persons who carry out examinations on cranes.
