​Essential guide: Our Critical Risk expectations
The word MUST means it is a mandatory requirement. Where you see the words YOUR CALL it means you are strongly advised to do this, but you can use your judgement.
Planning
Crane operators MUST review lifts, including boom length/ angle, radius, gross capacity, net load weight, and travel path.
​
Documented lift plans MUST be developed for higher risk / complex lifts such as:
-
panel installation
-
lifting personnel in a lift cage
-
erection of lifts with a tower crane
-
working near live overhead power lines
-
lifts > 85% rated lifting capacity.
-
heavy lifts where load is greater than 50 tonnes
-
lifting with two cranes
-
lifting unbalanced objects.
​
Operating conditions
Load chart/s MUST be available in the crane cabin and operator’s manual.
​
Daily pre-starts MUST be completed by crane operators and recorded in the crane’s logbook.
​
A method of positive communication MUST be established ( i.e., designated crane channel or recognised hand/ whistle signals)
Exclusion zones MUST be established around the crane working area.
​
Crane operations MUST not be carried out in wind speeds greater than 11km/hr.
​
Crane set-up
The crane location MUST be assessed for factors that may affect the cranes stability, increase any risk of collision, or contact with overhead powerlines.
-
the crane standing area MUST be able to withstand the forces imposed on it.
-
where required, engineered work platforms MUST be verified by a geotechnical engineer.
​
Where required, engineered work platforms MUST be verified by a Geotechnical Engineer.
​
A permit for work MUST be issued for mobile cranes and vehicle mounted cranes using outriggers.
​
Lifting equipment
Lifting equipment MUST be:
-
tagged and included in lifting equipment registers with the accompanying inspection records
-
inspected as required by a competent person, they MUST be tagged or marked accordingly
-
visually inspected prior to use and withdrawn from use when damaged
-
all soft slings MUST be visually inspected prior to use.
​​
Falling objects
Controls MUST be in place to manage the risk of falling objects (i.e., preventing free-fall, or by object fall-arrest systems).
Where practicable, loads MUST not to be lifted over workers or public access areas.
​
If there is a risk of people being hit by a falling object, control measures such as exclusion zones, or suitably designed gantries MUST be used.
​
Training and competency
Personnel involved in crane operations MUST hold the required qualifications for the tasks that they perform.
​
Crane operators MUST have documented evidence of familiarisation training on the crane being operated.
​
Trained and competent dog men are required for slinging all loads, and when directing crane operators when the load is out of view.
​