The boom in construction in the Middle East has resulted in cranes dominating the skyline almost as much as the towers they bring forth. One of the biggest challenges has been the safety of these potentially dangerous pieces of equipment.
PMV Live, the region's leading event for construction plant, machinery and vehicles, will highlight the need for more stringent, locally regulated guidelines for tower crane safety.
"There has been a dramatic shift since 2008, when there was a frenetic pace in construction to just get things built; there wasn't much of a structured approach to the involvement of consultants," says Andrew Henry, Operations Manager — UAE, Al Habtoor Leighton. "Now, the influence of consultants is greater and they tend to require compliance to a set of international standards in regard to tower cranes."
Henry will be discussing a report on the subject published by the Committee for European Construction Equipment alongside international industry leaders.
Regulations
Says Richie Colley, fellow panellist and regional lifting operations manager for Velosi: "I think the governing bodies are regulating the safety in tower cranes and other areas much better now in the Middle East and especially the UAE. They have put great systems in place for the inspection of these items, but I feel more stringent rules on operators' training is lacking."
The session was borne out of a need from the region's construction sector to increase levels of education regarding the safe operation and maintenance of cranes, says Nathan Waugh, PMV Live Event Manager. The debate, on Wednesday, is intended to help raise awareness of existing safety regulations and standards, assess the ways in which such standards can be applied in the region and the best way to move forward.
Middle East growth
This year's PMV Live is set to build on the successful relaunch in 2011, which saw the event redefine itself in the plant, machinery and vehicles industry. The event offers a platform for suppliers, distributors and manufacturers to showcase their products and services.
With more than 9,000 visitors to last year's combined PMV Live and Middle East Concrete, with 179 exhibitors from 27 countries, the event has proven its increasingly international reach. However, the potential of the Middle East continues to grow, with a significant 84 per cent of participants coming from across the region, including Cargotec, NFT Cranes, distributors of both Manitowoc and Potain, and Kharafi National, with a wide range of access equipment.
"The opportunity for our participants to get a real feel for the products and services in their sector at PMV Live has been an extremely important part of the event's success," says Waugh. "When we relaunched last year, the aim was very much to ensure that we provided an experience, more than just an exhibition."
The recent economic climate has seen a growth in demand for rental and used equipment, and PMV Live will reflect this by hosting a new feature: a used and rental zone. This provides a dedicated arena for those who are looking to source equipment at a lower cost.
