Safe and Efficient Use of Special Equipment - Institution of ...

Introduction
About IABSE
The International
Association for Bridge
and Structural Engineering
(IABSE) is a scientific and
technical association with
4000 Members in 100
countries and 50 National
Groups around the world.
IABSE’s mission is to
promote the exchange of
knowledge and to advance
the practice of structural
engineering worldwide in
the service of the profession
and society, taking
into consideration technical
economic, environmental,
aesthetic and
social aspects. IABSE
was founded in 1929 and
has its seat in Zurich,
Switzerland.
Recent bridge collapses around
the world have highlighted
that, whilst we drive safer cars
and live and work in a safer
environment than 20 years
ago, the bridge construction
industry continues to injure
and kill operatives and cause
serious damage to property.
The modern bridge industry is
moving to mechanized
solutions in order to accelerate
construction and reduce
cost. The level of sophistication
of the new-generation bridge
construction machines requires
a broad overview and a
technically competent culture.
An increased level of knowledge
related to these modern construction
processes would save
lives and would facilitate better
decision-making processes.
With this need in mind, leading
personalities and firms
of the bridge building industry
and IABSE have joined
forces in an international
working group. Members
of IABSE WG-6 “Bridge
Construction Equipment” include
contractors, specialist subcontractors,
designers of bridges
and bridge erection machines,
technology consultants, construction
engineers, and manufacturers
of special equipment.
bridge erection techniques increasingly
competitive, producing best value
for all parties involved), sustainability
(efficient use of equipment: reduce,
reuse, recycle), technical aspects
(transferring best practice knowledge
to the bridge industry) and management
(providing guidelines for appropriate
selection and efficient control of
the process).
The first results of this work will be presented
in a two-day seminar “State-ofthe-art
bridge deck erection: safe and
efficient use of special equipment” to
be held in Bangkok on November 15
and 16. The target audience is civil
engineers with a general knowledge
of bridge construction equipment,
owners, designers, contractors, and
suppliers.
In the seminar, the members of WG-6
will give multidisciplinary lectures on
optimal use conditions of bridge construction
equipment, working principles
of equipment, structure-equipment
interaction, performance and
productivity, lessons learned, and
safety. Open discussions will follow
the lectures and will conclude both
days.
WG-6 is working on safety
(developing safer construction
systems to minimise risks
for human lives and property),
economical factors (making