At least two cranes a week are failing vital safety checks, according to figures from Dubai Accreditation Centre (DAC).
The eight laboratories accredited to carry out safety checks on cranes have been reporting failure rates to DAC since tougher regulations were imposed early last year.
The move was part of Dubai Municipality’s aim to stop the infiltration of poor quality cranes on the emirate’s building sites and clamp down on the number of accidents.
“We’re getting around two reports a week of cranes failing,” said Engineer Lina Mofleh Qudah, director of DAC.
“Inspection bodies have to state whether equipment has passed or failed, and report any failures. The most important part of the inspection, especially for lifting equipment, is to know whether it is safe or not – this is the bottom line.”
The criteria used by inspection bodies for checking lifting equipment, including cradles and hoists, has also undergone a revamp in the last year, while the training and qualifications of inspectors are more closely monitored.
Among the companies accredited to carry out inspections are Claymore Security and Safety Consultants, Emirates Safety Services and Dutest Industrial.
“If an inspection body doesn’t do its job properly it is our right to penalise it. We can suspend it, publicise the fact that it’s violated the requirements and withdraw its accreditation,” added Qudah.
Inspectors from Dubai Municipality are also making random visits to construction sites to monitor whether contractors are having equipment fully tested by an accredited body.
“Based on a daily programme, the inspectors cover as many sites as possible. They do find a lot of lifting equipment that hasn’t been tested. If a contractor isn’t testing equipment they will be fined and told to stop work.”
But despite the crackdown, many contractors still bypass the accreditation bodies, according to Sajil Salim, marketing manager at Sharjah-based cranes supplier, AAA Construction Equipment.
“If a contractor wants to dodge a testing agency they will use a company they know they can get away with. There are companies who you can give the details of the crane to over the phone, and they’ll issue a certificate without even doing the check,” he said.
All cranes rented by AAA are tested by Dutest Industrial.
“Previously, the customers were getting them tested but when a lot of companies were trying to dodge the testing agency by just getting cranes certified without even checking them, we decided we would certify the cranes ourselves,” Salim added.
DAC is set to introduce an accreditation ‘plate’ carrying the Dubai Municipality logo, which will be fixed to all cranes that have passed safety tests.
“This would be a good thing. Accidents are still happening. But it’s a long battle, and may take a few years before real results are seen,” added Salim.