In brief
The periodic inspection of tower cranes is carried out not by a single authorised person but by an equipment inspection body; inspection is repeated after first erection, on every climbing and relocation, and at least once a year. Safety on site depends on erection and dismantling following the manufacturer's instructions, observing the manufacturer's wind limit, a trained operator and signaller, and closing off the area the load passes over.
Tower crane safety is the longest-lasting risk on a construction site
Tower crane safety starts in the first week on site and lasts until the structural work is finished. The crane is inspected once on the day it is erected, but for months it is exposed to the wind, climbed, shares the sky with neighbouring cranes and carries loads hundreds of times a day over areas where employees are present. There are four moments when the risk is concentrated: erection and dismantling, climbing, strong wind, and slinging and carrying the load.
The legal basis is the Regulation on Health and Safety Requirements for the Use of Work Equipment. Coordination on site is carried out within the framework of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work; for the health and safety plan and the role of the coordinator, see our article on the regulation on OHS in construction work.
Tower crane erection and dismantling
Erection and dismantling are when the crane is at its most fragile: tower sections are not fully connected, and the counterweight and jib are not yet balanced. This work is planned according to the following principles:
- Foundation and ground. The foundation on which the crane will stand is designed according to the loads given by the manufacturer. Foundation anchors and ground bearing capacity are documented before erection.
- Manufacturer's assembly instructions. The assembly sequence, bolt tightening values and which element is lifted with which mobile crane are turned into a written assembly plan according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Competent team. Assembly is carried out by a trained team that knows the crane type. The assembly team works at height; full-body harnesses and an anchorage plan are ready.
- Closing off the area. Throughout erection and dismantling, the area under the mobile crane and the elements being lifted is closed off with tape and a banksman.
- Power lines and neighbouring structures. If there is a power line within the jib's slewing area, the safe distance and, if necessary, de-energising the line are agreed before erection.
- Overlapping cranes. Under Annex II 3.2.1, where loads are lifted with two or more lifting appliances whose working areas overlap, measures are taken to prevent collisions between loads and appliance components. Height differences between cranes, slewing limiters and communication between operators are part of these measures.
Climbing is as risky as erection. Many manufacturers specify a lower wind speed for assembly and climbing than the operating limit; take this value from the manual and write it into the assembly plan.
Tower crane inspection: the equipment inspection body requirement
Tower cranes are among the few pieces of equipment whose periodic inspection cannot be carried out by a single authorised person. Under additional Article 2 of the Work Equipment Regulation, periodic inspections of tower cranes are carried out by persons authorised to carry out periodic inspections working at equipment inspection bodies. Until the Ministry makes a separate arrangement, inspection bodies accredited to TS EN ISO/IEC 17020 by TÜRKAK (the Turkish Accreditation Agency) in the relevant scope are accepted within this scope. Confirm before signing the contract that tower cranes are within the inspection body's scope of accreditation.
| When? | Basis | Note |
|---|---|---|
| After first erection, before use | Art. 7/2-a | Tower cranes are explicitly listed |
| After each climbing or modification | Art. 7/2-a | For equipment that can be extended in height |
| On relocation | Art. 7/2-a | Again when the crane is moved to another site |
| After significant maintenance and repair | Art. 7/2-a | Such as brakes, ropes, structural repair |
| At least once a year | Annex III Table 2 | Unless the standard specifies a shorter period |
| After a storm, accident or long period out of use | Art. 7/2-b | After events that may impair safety |
An examination is carried out at every periodic inspection. Under Annex III 2.2.1, a load test is carried out once a year with the working load (or the lifting capacity if not specified), and at most every three years or after significant maintenance with the lifting capacity and coefficients; the general coefficients are 1.25 for the static test and 1.1 for the dynamic test. The inspection contract is set up via ISG-KATİP (the Ministry's online OHS registration system) at least one day before the inspection, and the report contains the EKİPNET (the Ministry's register of authorised inspection personnel) registration number of the person who carried out the inspection. For the Annex III tables, see our article on periodic inspection intervals.
Tower crane wind limit and weather conditions
The idea that "tower cranes are not affected by wind" is a dangerous false confidence encountered on site. Wind acts on both the crane structure and the load being carried; a large-surface formwork panel or facade element can rotate uncontrollably even in light wind. Annex II 3.2.7 requires the use of equipment used outdoors for lifting non-guided loads to be stopped when weather conditions deteriorate to the point of preventing safe use.
The legislation does not give a single figure for wind; the limit is in the manufacturer's manual. In practice, the following arrangement is set up:
- The maximum wind speed for operation is taken from the manual and written in the operator's cab and in the crane instruction. A lower limit is set for large-surface loads.
- The anemometer in the cab is checked to be working during the daily check; if there is no anemometer or it is faulty, the wind decision is not left to guesswork.
- When a weather warning is received, the load is lowered without waiting for the end of work and the crane is put into its out-of-service position. When out of service, the slewing part is left free to weathervane in the wind according to the manufacturer's instructions; the slewing brake is not left locked.
- After a storm, the crane is not operated until it has been inspected under Art. 7/2-b.
In winter conditions, icing and snow loads are also among the risks on site; you can find general measures for sites in our article on workplace safety in winter.
Tower crane operator and signaller
The crane is operated only by an operator assigned to this work who has received training before use. Check the current lists to see whether the operator's work requires a vocational training certificate or an MYK (Vocational Qualifications Authority) certificate; for certificate types, see our article on occupations requiring an MYK certificate.
Tower crane operation requires climbing every day to the cab through a tall tower. For this reason, fitness for work at height is assessed separately at the pre-employment and periodic examinations; we explain what the physician looks at in our article on the health report for work at height.
The operator often cannot see the load at the point where it is slung. Under Annex II 3.2.3, if the operator cannot see the load's path directly or with auxiliary devices, a trained and experienced person is assigned to guide them. A single method of communication is used between the signaller and the operator: radio or hand signals. On radio, the channel is reserved for the crane team only; hand signals are known in the same way by the whole team.
The operator's start-of-shift check covers: limit switches, load and moment limiter warnings, brakes, rope and hook, safety latch, anemometer and control responses. You can find a similar checklist for overhead cranes in our article on overhead crane safety.
Closing off the load area and the load chart
Under Annex II 3.1.3, unless technically unavoidable, no one stands under a suspended load and loads are not moved over unprotected areas where employees may be present. For a tower crane, this means planning the site:
- The route between the material storage area and the floors where loads will be landed is chosen away from areas where employees gather.
- Load landing points at slab edges are temporarily closed off with tape and a banksman.
- The site entrance, pedestrian routes and site cabin areas are kept outside the load route; if this is not possible, a protective canopy is built.
On a tower crane, capacity changes with the load's distance from the tower. The table below is a representative chart prepared to show how to read it; on site, use only your own crane's chart.
| Distance from tower | Load that can be carried |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 m | 6,000 kg |
| 30 m | 3,200 kg |
| 45 m | 1,900 kg |
| 55 m (jib end) | 1,400 kg |
With a crane that carries 1,400 kg at the jib end, you can carry a 2,500 kg formwork only at a distance close to the tower. The load and moment limiter exists to stop this mistake; disabling the limiter or changing its setting is unacceptable under any circumstances.
For checklist items covering the whole site, see our construction site OHS checklist. In construction projects in Bursa and neighbouring provinces, planning tower crane inspections with equipment inspection bodies is part of our periodic inspection service, and preparing erection, wind and load area instructions is part of our OHS specialist service. You can track inspection dates with the OHS calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who carries out the periodic inspection of a tower crane?
Persons authorised to carry out periodic inspections working at an equipment inspection body. Until the Ministry makes a separate arrangement, inspection bodies accredited to TS EN ISO/IEC 17020 in the relevant scope are accepted within this scope. The contract is set up in ISG-KATİP at least one day before the inspection.
Is a new inspection needed after a tower crane is climbed?
Yes. Art. 7/2-a of the Work Equipment Regulation requires inspection of equipment such as tower cranes after first erection and after climbing or modification.
At what wind speed is a tower crane stopped?
The legislation does not give a single wind speed; the limit is in the manufacturer's manual. This value is written into the crane instruction, monitored with the anemometer in the cab and kept lower for large-surface loads.
Why is working under a load being carried prohibited?
Under Annex II 3.1.3, unless technically unavoidable, no one stands under a suspended load. A slinging error, a sling breaking or a load rotating in the wind becomes an unavoidable accident for the person underneath.
Equipment inventory and an inspection calendar under the new Annex III, with inspections carried out through our solution partners, plus report and defect follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.