The Health and Safety Executive is to consider whether to lower the maximum wind speed in which tower cranes operate, following a review of a fatal accident in Liverpool 2007

Laurence Golob from the HSE鈥檚 business involvement unit said that although the crane had been operating within the minimum standard requirements, it was understood that wind may have contributed to the accident.

Research has been undertaken to establish whether the standards that currently apply to the use of cranes in high winds need to be altered.

Golob said it was hoped the final report would be finished by early to mid 2010.

and would evaluate whether current wind standards for tower cranes was adequate.

Meanwhile the HSE has also agreed to produce new research into major catastrophes within construction, in conjunction with CIRIA.

HSE chief construction inspector Philip White said the research would focus on tower crane incidents, tunnel collapses and falling scaffolding.