FAA calls for crane operations to be regulated
Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar is calling on politicians to “abandon their lofty rhetoric” and tackle under-regulated crane operations.
In a statement, the environmental group said that following the tower crane collapse opposite the Sacred Heart school a few days ago FAA was imploring politicians to tackle head-on this major concern which undermined residents’ right to peaceful possession to their property.
Despite its past pleas, FAA said, crane operations were still under-regulated.
“It is well known that most cranes operating in Malta, including the whole range of tower, wheel-mounted, truck-mounted, overhead, crawler, loader and telescopic cranes, are bought cheaply in Europe once they are no longer considered serviceable there.
“Although they are supposed to be checked and certified by professionals every six months, one wonders how this certification is issued for some cranes which are clearly in a very poor state and pose a real danger to human life and property,” it said.
FAA said the situation was aggravated by the fact that no checks were made on whether the cranes were well assembled on site.
Certificates giving date of manufacture of the crane and safety certificates from abroad were not required to be submitted to any authority and crane operators’ only requirement was a truck driving licence.
“Enforcement is as yet unheard of, and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (Ohsa), responsible for such checks, is still severely undermanned to tackle the great amount of building sites all over the island while incrimination of unscrupulous and unprofessional practice is as yet non-existent.”
Legislation covering cranes which were predominantly assembled and operated in densely habitable areas was sketchy, at best.
And although OHSA, in conjunction with the Chamber of Engineers, held regular training courses for crane operators, the onus for the safe operation of the crane fell under the project supervisor’s responsibility.
But this legislation only directed the responsible party to minimise risk. The crane operators were also subject to a code of practice, but failure to comply was not an offence.
FAA said that existing regulations which referred to crane usage were not specific and assigned legal responsibilities to several players.
“This creates several loopholes which have left families of tragic victims such as those of the Cathedral Street house collapse nine years ago, still chasing proceedings in court, with no conclusion or closure in sight,” it said.
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Astrid Vella
May 29th 2009, 23:24
@ Victor Laiviera: As you were told just 2 days ago, unlike you, FAA has no time to waste and only uses its scant resources in areas where it can make a difference. Since you already knew that, what is this hypocritical campaign against FAA? We were not the only NGO that does not appear on this PR, so what is this axe you have to grind against FAA?
The fact that we do not appear on a PR does not mean we don’t support the NGOs involved, quite the opposite as NGOs try not to duplicate their work, so while NT and DLH were preparing this, we were working on the cranes issue.
Victor Laiviera if your criticism were sincere you would have accepted our invitation to join us and help with PRs. Since you have not, it is obvious that yours is pure political goading to which FAA will never succumb
Marie Galea
May 29th 2009, 17:54
Here in Mellieha we suffer a lot of inconvenience with cranes and other building vehicles. The skyline is full of them and instead of decreasing they seem to crop up like mushrooms. We have had a big yellow one right in the middle of Wied tal-Madonna for over 2 years now and that is towering on a neighbouring hotel and new houses built by the same developer and this is right in front of the police station. I did console myself somehow when the other day I was invited to a flat in a high rise development in Swieqi and the owners were showing me the view of the far away sea and inland structures. I counted no less than 8 cranes in the vicinity. What the hell is going on in this country of ours. We have to stop accepting the "Only in Malta" concept as if it were a big joke because a joke it ain't. To the powers that be : PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! THAT'S WHY WE PUT YOU THERE. MALTA EXPECTS A LOT MORE THAN IT IS GETTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astrid Vella
May 29th 2009, 17:31
@ A Camilleri: Owners DO have a right to have a say - they can report the crane to the police for violation of their airspace, and get them to stop passing overhead. Unfortunately this fact is very little known and when we asked the authorities why it is not publicised all we got was a wry smile.
A.CAMILLERI
May 29th 2009, 16:10
its not fair for a contractor to build a tower crane over so many peoples houses without the owners having the right to have a say about it.
one of these days there is going to be a disaster ( hope it dont happen ), we already had a couple of warnings lately,
Victor Laiviera
May 29th 2009, 14:36
What is the opinion of the FAA on the JPO Mistra party?
Are they aware that the permit has been issued?
Why are they silent on this issue?
T.Pace
May 29th 2009, 14:29
Those of us who have to suffer without any chance of redress as things stand would greatly appreciate it if politicians consider the rights of ordinary civilians other than developers. Fixed time scales for site completion should come into force too, permanent building sites are hazardous on many levels. I seriously doubt there is the political will however.
p.piscitelli
May 29th 2009, 14:28
if these cranes are not good for the rest of eu ,i don't see why they are good for malta.they sell any type of building for very high prices so i presium they have a very good income so why don't they buy new cranes?do they pay the damage they cause?do they they pay a nice fine when these things happen?i think that we should try to be less careless.
Joseph E Briffa
May 29th 2009, 14:07
It's about time that the authorities pounce on these people who are getting all this junk from UK and Italy to make a fast buck and are endangaring the life of their workers and of the people in general. Is it possible that the authorities who test this junk give the OK? I have a feeling that some people are so obliging because they get their palms greased. Otherwise it's not possible that this junk is given the OK. Architects should be there and do all the settings and not leave everything in the hands of a few nincompoops who are blissfully unaware of what's going around them. Isn't the architect in charge of the works expected the visit the site of works every so often? Unfortunately alot of unscrupolous architects are just happy to sign the papers, get their fee and bless you Joe. When are we going to wake up and behave like Europeans?
victor aquilina
May 29th 2009, 13:52
Again, Here Anything goes, Rules & Regulations ! "Der" Wot,s That??
"You may injure or Kill someone, "Der, So??
Yes am afraid its another, Only In Malta