Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) state secretary Brian Parker, who described the November 27 accident as a "major embarrassment", said he was waiting for answers after a roundtable discussion with WorkCover about plans to improve safety regulations.
"We put a document on the table that stated clearly the safest steps for the checking of cranes going right through to inspection of the tensions on to the initial commissioning of the cranes," Mr Parker said.
"We had a meeting with members of the construction industry where our proposals for safety inspections every 12 months with a rego-like sticker on approval by an independent engineer were endorsed by the majority of the room.
"We are not going to sit around on our hands and wait for it and we expect virtually every crane in the Sydney CBD to be shut down and inspected by independent engineers.
"Self regulations have gone too far and accidents like the one at UTS are an example."
Since Mr Parker's call to action all four of the cranes at the Central Park development in Chippendale were shut down and independently inspected. Three have since been reactivated.
A WorkCover spokesman said third-party checks on cranes was an option.
"During the meeting it was agreed that crane operators as a priority must undertake fire prevention and control measures, and review their evacuation procedures and systems," the spokesman said.
"The Industry Plant Consultative Committee was also tasked with reviewing existing risk control advice and industry practice, including independent crane pre-assembly and pre-use inspection systems. The Committee will meet later this month to discuss these issues as well as the possible third party verification of cranes in NSW.
"The outcomes of the Roundtable are designed to secure the safety and security of workers and the public in relation to use of tower cranes at construction sites."
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