Form 6.2
Response

SHERIFFDOM OF TAYSIDE CENTRAL AND FIFE
AT STIRLING SHERIFF COURT

Court ref: B139/17
RESPONSE
to the
DETERMINATION OF SHERIFF W A GILCHRIST
UNDER THE INQUIRIES INTO FATAL ACCIDENTS AND SUDDEN DEATHS ETC. (SCOTLAND) ACT 2016
IN THE
INQUIRY INTO THE DEATH OF JOHN GRANT COUSIN (DOB: 23/01/1954)

To: the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
1. The British Standards Institution being a person to whom a recommendation under section 26(1)(b) was addressed, do respond as follows.
2. • At paragraph 8 of the Sheriff’s Determination a recommendation was made that the appropriate committee or sub-committee of the British Standards Institution (“BSI”) respond with a view to determining whether it would be appropriate to amend the Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Cranes (BS7121-2-1:2012).
3. BSI’s National Committee (“Committee”) has informally considered the recommendation set out in Sheriff W A Gilchrist’s determination. A formal meeting of the Committee is being called specifically to discuss and examine the addition of guidance on the fitting and removal of fly jibs to the appropriate part or parts of BS 7121. The Committee believes any additional guidance would not be a substitute for the proper training and competence provisions that already exist within the BS 7121 series or for proper instructions for use being provided in the manufacturers’ operating manuals.
4. With regard to the fixing of warnings to fly jib attachment and pivot pins, the Committee believes that this is not practical but considers that the provision of warning notices on the main jib adjacent to the pin locations would be of benefit. This requirement is, however, outside the scope of a safe use Code of Practice such as the BS 7121 series. Instead, it falls within the scope of the European Product Standard for mobile cranes, EN 13000. MHE/3/11 is making representations on this topic to CEN/TC 147/WG 11, the European technical committee responsible for EN 13000.