Tower Crane Compliance Contracts
Ongoing CPCS A61 Appointed Person contracts for tower crane operations. 8-weekly audits, lift plan review, on-call AP support and a full documentation pack — so your lifting operations stay LOLER and BS 7121 compliant from erection through to dismantle.
Tower cranes need an Appointed Person across the whole project — not just at the start
LOLER 1998 regulation 8 requires every lifting operation to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. On a tower crane site that is not a single document — it is a continuous regime of generic plans, specific plans, audits and competent supervision that has to track the live construction programme.
A standing AP contract gives your project one named, accountable Appointed Person from erection to dismantle. Lift plan reviews, competence checks, exclusion zone management and audit reports run on a planned cadence rather than reactively after a near miss.
For more on what a lift plan must contain, see our guide on what a lift plan is and when you need one.
What goes wrong without a standing AP
- Lift plans rubber-stamped by suppliers with no independent review
- Operator and slinger competence not verified on rotation changes
- LOLER thorough examination dates slipping unnoticed
- Tandem and out-of-envelope lifts going ahead without a specific plan
- Exclusion zones quietly eroded as the building rises around the crane
- Documentation gaps that can't be defended at HSE or client audit
Comprehensive Appointed Person Support
Everything you need to maintain lifting compliance on your tower crane project, scoped around your construction programme.
8-weekly compliance audits
Planned, recorded audits of operator competence, slinger/signaller competence, paperwork, lift plans, exclusion zones and communications. Each visit closes with a written report and corrective action deadlines.
Documentation management
We hold and version-control your tower crane LOLER certificates, weekly inspection sheets, accessory registers, generic lift plans and AP appointment letters — all in one place, ready for client or HSE scrutiny.
On-call AP support
Direct line to your named Appointed Person for non-routine lifts, design changes, near misses, incidents and external scrutiny. We pick up the phone — no ticket queue.
Lift plan review & approval
Specific lift plans submitted by trades, demolition contractors and specialist subcontractors are reviewed against the generic site plan envelope and signed off (or returned with comments) before any lift goes ahead.
From erection sign-off to dismantle close-out
A predictable, repeatable contract rhythm so your tower crane compliance is never the thing holding up the programme.
Project scope & AP appointment
Initial site visit, review of the construction programme, crane count and lift profile. We issue the formal AP appointment letter and the generic site lift plan.
Erection sign-off & generic plan briefed
AP attends erection or commissioning, signs off the handover paperwork, briefs the generic plan to the lifting team and seeds the audit schedule.
8-weekly audits & on-call support
Recurring audits, written reports, lift plan reviews and direct on-call AP support across the construction phase. Non-routine lift plans turned around in 24 hours.
Dismantle handover & close-out pack
AP attends dismantle, signs off the handover and issues a project close-out documentation pack — audit reports, lift plans, accessory register and AP records — for your H&S file.
What we check on every visit
Our 8-weekly audits cover the operational and documentary aspects of your tower crane operations to keep you on the right side of LOLER and BS 7121-1. Every audit closes with a written report, photographic evidence where relevant and a closure deadline against any corrective actions.
- Tower crane operator competency verification
- Slinger/signaller competency checks
- Crane documentation review (LOLER, insurance, maintenance)
- Weekly inspection records
- Lifting accessory inspection and certification
- Safe systems of work review
- Exclusion zone compliance
- Communication arrangements
- Emergency procedures
- Schedule of common lifts review
Contract structure
Tower crane contracts typically run from erection through to dismantle. We scope each contract around the construction programme — crane count, audit frequency, lift complexity and the level of on-call support you want from the AP.
Site-experienced, independent and pre-qualified
The reasons Tier 1 main contractors and developers ask for us by name on tower crane projects.
35+ years of lifting under load
Site-experienced Appointed Person — not a paper-only consultancy. We have run lifting operations on Tier 1 main contractor sites for decades.
NEBOSH Construction Diploma · CertIOSH · MIIRSM · TIFSM
Audits and lift plan reviews are signed off by an experienced H&S practitioner with the academic backing and professional memberships to defend decisions to your client and the HSE.
Tier 1 contractor approved
Already pre-qualified and trusted by Wates, Caddick, GMI and other Tier 1 main contractors. Your client probably already knows our name.
Independent lift plan review
Specific lift plans from your trades and lift suppliers are checked against BS 7121-1, ISO 10567 and your generic site plan envelope — no rubber-stamping.
17-point review methodology
Every plan we sign off is run through our 17-point review covering load data, crane configuration, ground bearing, accessories and rescue arrangements.
On-call, not a queue
Direct line to your named AP. When site changes mid-pour, you don't want to log a ticket — you want a decision.
Tower crane Appointed Person — common questions
If your question isn't here, ask in the contact form below and we'll come back inside 4 working hours.
What is a tower crane Appointed Person contract?
An ongoing engagement where a CPCS A61 Appointed Person plans, audits and signs off lifting operations on your tower crane project — from erection through to dismantle — including 8-weekly audits, lift plan review and on-call AP support.
How often should tower cranes be audited?
BS 7121-1 requires planned, recorded audits. Industry best practice is 8-weekly through the project life, with extra audits on rotation changes, new lift types, near misses or incidents.
Do tower cranes need a lift plan for every single lift?
Every lifting operation must be planned under LOLER 1998. Routine repetitive lifts are usually covered by a generic site lift plan; out-of-envelope lifts get a specific plan; tandem and complex picks get their own engineered plan.
What's the difference between a LOLER inspection and an AP audit?
A LOLER thorough examination is a statutory engineering inspection of the crane itself, every 6–12 months. An AP audit reviews how lifting operations are being conducted — paperwork, plans, briefings, supervision, slingers, communications. The two sit alongside each other.
How fast can a non-routine lift plan be turned around?
For contracted clients we issue non-routine specific plans within 24 hours of receiving the brief, weights, drawings and accessory information. Tandem lifts and contract lifts take 3–5 working days because of engineering checks and independent review.
How is a tower crane contract priced?
Quote-only — every project differs in length, crane count, audit cadence, on-call support and documentation scope. Send the construction programme and basic crane info via the contact form and we will scope and quote within 4 working hours.
What happens during an 8-weekly audit?
AP attends site, verifies operator and slinger competence, reviews LOLER and weekly inspections, checks accessories, walks exclusion zones and communications, samples recent lift plans against actual operations and writes up a closure report with corrective actions.
Can you cover sites with multiple tower cranes?
Yes — multi-crane sites need a coordinated lifting strategy covering anti-collision, slewing priorities, shared exclusion zones and concurrent activity rules. We write the multi-crane management plan and audit it on the same 8-weekly cycle.
Will you act as Lifting Supervisor on tandem lifts as well?
On request, yes. Many clients ask the AP to also act as Lifting Supervisor on tandem and complex lifts so a single competent person owns both planning and execution. This is scoped into the contract up front.
What happens at dismantle?
AP attends dismantle, signs off the handover paperwork and issues a project close-out documentation pack — audit reports, lift plans, accessory register, AP records — for your H&S file and for handover to the client.
Can you write a one-off tower crane lift plan without a full contract?
Yes. As well as ongoing Appointed Person contracts, we write individual tower crane lift plans and tower crane lifting plans for specific operations — erection and dismantle sequences, heavy or tandem picks, and lifts over occupied areas or shared airspace. Each tower crane lift plan is prepared by a CPCS A61 Appointed Person to LOLER 1998 and BS 7121-5.
Get a quote for tower crane contracts
07803 8080933 fields, 30 seconds. We reply within 24 hours.
Related services
Most projects need more than one of these. Here's what often pairs with this service.
CPCS A61 Appointed Person
A named CPCS A61 Appointed Person for your lifting operations — planning, lift plans and sign-off to LOLER 1998 and BS 7121.
Learn moreLifting Operations Audit
Site-based compliance audit covering plans, equipment certificates, supervision, and operator competence. 8-weekly cycle available.
Learn moreMobile Crane Lift Plans
Lift plans for hire and contract lifts. Tandem and complex-pick experience across the UK.
Learn moreSteel Erection Planning
Combined lift plan, method statement and risk assessment for structural steel erection. BS 5531 compliant.
Learn moreStarting a tower crane project?
Send the construction programme and basic crane info — we will scope and quote inside 4 working hours.
What we need from you
- Project address, programme dates and main contractor
- Number, make and model of tower cranes
- Erection and dismantle dates (if known)
- Anticipated lift profile — routine, tandem, façade, plant lifts
- Whether multiple cranes share airspace
- Audit cadence and on-call support requirements
Available across the UK
We deliver tower crane appointed person contracts UK-wide. Plans are produced remotely from Warrington; site visits are scheduled where the work requires it. Pick your nearest city or call 07803 808093 to discuss your project.