CRANE PLANNING QUESTIONAIRE 2011

Principal Contractor crane hardstand information provision

Feedback Update Previous data gathered April 2009

During the joint PFF / BCSA / HSE crane planning improvement initiative, Principal Contractor information
provision was highlighted as a key area of concern to APs planning lifting operations for member companies.

In April 2009 the PFF obtained feedback from APs representing member companies regarding information provision from
principal contractors / clients regarding crane hardstand bearing capacities. The feedback was summarized and serves as
a benchmark against which the PFF can measure progress on the key issues.
In this 2011 questionnaire we repeat some of the key questions from 2009 and have added some questions relating to the
associated PFF / BCSA / HSE Safety Bulletin of 3rd Aug 2009.
Member companies are requested to return feedback sheets from all APs currently undertaking their lift planning.
In the interest of maximizing feedback levels, anonymous replies are permitted if preferred and questionnaires may be
returned direct to the PFF. The questionnaire will also be posted on the PFF website;
http://www.precastfloors.info/downloads/download_registration.html
Completed forms should be returned to James Fudge by email to james.fudge@britishprecast.org or fax: 0116 251 4568
The questionnaire will be active during the month of February. Completed feedback forms returned to James Fudge by 9 th
February, will enable referral in discussions with UKCG at a meeting to be held with PFF / BCSA on 10 th February.
For all questions, please refer to all lifts undertaken in the past 6 months unless noted otherwise

Questions a) through to c) below request update feedback to compare to the 2009 data

a)
Estimate the % of your lifts which were undertaken following receipt of definitive tonnes / m bearing
capacities for the hardstand areas from the principal contractor / client? %

b)
For lifts where a definitive tonnes / m bearing capacity was obtained from the principal contractor;
i) What was the highest tonnes / m bearing capacity provided? i) %
ii) What was the lowest tonnes / m bearing capacity provided? ii) %
iii) Estimate the % of lifts in this category where standard as travels crane mats were iii) %
deemed of inadequate load spread area

c)
Where a definitive tonnes / m bearing capacity was not obtained from the principal contractor;
i) Estimate the % of these lifts where a site manager signed acceptance of the lift plan i) %
/ the outrigger loadings prior to lifting without additional assessment evidence being
provided
ii) Where the site manager signed as in c) i) above, estimate the % of these lifts where ii) %
signed for outrigger pressures exceeded 40 tonnes / m
iii) Estimate the % of lifts in this category where standard as travels crane mats were iii) %
deemed of inadequate load spread area

Questions d) through to j) below request feedback relevant to extracts (in red) from the 2009 Safety Bulletin

d) The principal contractor must provide adequate information to the AP regarding the hardstand
capability. In order to achieve this they should ensure an assessment of the proposed crane
hardstand is undertaken by a competent person and confirm the bearing capacity in tonnes / m2 to
the Appointed Person
Estimate a % improvement (if any) of the above info provision now compared to 2 years ago %

e) Following confirmation of the hardstand bearing capacity, the AP will confirm the proposed
outrigger mat size to ensure the ground bearing capacity is not exceeded, at any timeIn the
absence of hardstand bearing capacity information at the time of initial crane planning, it is
acceptable for the AP to propose outrigger loads (in tonnes / m) to the principal contractor in
advance. The principal contractor must then ensure a suitable assessment takes place
Where you provided a lift plan / outrigger pressures prior to receipt of bearing capacity / hardstand
capability info..Estimate a % of those projects where evidence of a competent assessment
was subsequently provided by the principal contractor (i.e. not just obtaining a signature of
approval from the site manager) %
f) It should be noted that, based on sample data supplied to PFF / BCSA APs from their clients,
permissible bearing capacities in excess of 40 tonnes / m are relatively uncommon. Outrigger
loadings proposed in advance of hardstand assessment should be realistic in anticipation of the
assessment, giving consideration to historic data and experience.
Estimate a % of lift plans where you have proposed outrigger pressures of over 40 tonnes / m
without receiving evidence / confirmation from the client that this load could be accommodated %
g) Prior to commencing the lifting operations, the Principal Contractor should sign confirmation that
The crane is rigged in the anticipated crane stand position as indicated on the Lift Plan
The crane hardstand has been prepared adequately to withstand the tonnes / m specified
on the Lift Plan
Full consideration has been given to all factors, including; Potential ground deterioration due
to weather / construction activity since initial investigation / assessment
Estimate a % of lifts where you obtain a pre-lift confirmation signature for all of the above %

h) The assessment may require input from a geotechnical engineer. Upon receipt of the
resulting assessment, it is recommended that it is asked what factor of safety has been
included if any. The engineer should also be made aware of the integral safety factors
built into the crane planning outrigger load calculations. This should enable the AP to
make a decision based on appropriate calculations and avoid including additional
safety factors upon confirmation
of the hardstand bearing capacity. Such overly cautious assessments can result in a
requirement for impractically large / inefficient outrigger mat areas.
Are you aware that LICCON (actual predicted) type outrigger loadings can be used without Yes / No
additional safety factors if you have been provided with a permissible bearing capacity (in tonnes /
m) by a specialist engineer, who has already included an adequate safety factor? Circle answer

i) APs and engineers should refer to the CIRIA publication Crane Stability On Site C703
for more information / guidance on factors of safety
i) Are you familiar with CIRIA C703? i) Yes / No
ii) Would you feel comfortable undertaking self assessments of
ii) Yes / No
hardstands using CIRIA C703 tables /
charts to specify crane mat areas on commercial projects where a
construction contractor is your client?
iii) Yes / No
iii) Do you consider it appropriate that the AP should self assess the hardstand as
noted above on commercial projects where a construction contractor is your
client? iv) Yes / No
iv) Would you feel comfortable undertaking self assessments of
hardstands using CIRIA C703 tables /
v) Yes / No
charts to specify crane mat areas on domestic lifts where your client is a
domestic customer?
v) Do you consider it appropriate that the AP should self assess the hardstand as
noted above on domestic lifts where your client is a domestic customer?

j) Were you aware of the PFF / BCSA / HSE Safety Bulletin and its recommendations prior to
receiving this questionnaire? Circle answer Yes / No

Do you have any additional comments / thoughts for PFF consideration / response relating to the questionnaire content?
Optional: Completed by: Date:

Company: