Construction union UCATT have welcomed confirmation from the Health and Safety Executive that a new statutory crane register will be introduced in April 2010.

The decision to introduce a statutory tower crane register was made at the HSE's Board Meeting on Wednesday.

UCATT have been at the forefront of the campaign to introduce a statutory register of tower cranes. In recent years there have been a series of accidents involving cranes, resulting in eight fatalities.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "A statutory tower crane register is a major step forward for construction safety. The truth is that there were many people in the industry who did not want to see a statutory register come into being. If it had not been for the campaigning of UCATT and the safety groups, the register would not have seen the light of day.

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"The register means that workers and the general public will be reassured that tower cranes are being properly installed. The register will mean that employers cannot cut corners when it comes to crane safety."

The HSE's decision to support a statutory tower crane register follows an extensive consultation exercise undertaken earlier this year. As part of the consultation UCATT argued that the register should apply to all tower cranes and not just those found on construction sites, this followed several high profile accidents involving tower cranes at Southampton Docks.

UCATT also argued that that the register should apply to all cranes, especially towed tower cranes that operate in a very similar manner to conventional tower cranes. UCATT further suggested that tower cranes should be registered within three days of erection rather than the 14 days deadline that the HSE have opted for.

Mr Ritchie, added: "UCATT would have liked the register to be more extensive and for the registration period to have been shorter. However the key issue was ensuring a statutory register was established. The operation of the register will be reviewed in the future and at that point we will seek to widen its scope."

(CD/KMcA)