WorkSafe Victoria Conducting Mobile Crane Inspections in August

Recently WorkSafe inspectors attended three serious incidents where heavy machinery at construction sites had overturned, landing on occupied residential houses. 

Starting in August 2019, WorkSafe Victoria will be conducting a targeted blitz on hydraulic mobile cranes operating on construction sites. 

How to prevent incidents

With the increased use of heavy plant in the housing construction sub-sector, incidents often occur when builders and contractors using this plant are unfamiliar with identifying hazards and implementing suitable risk control measures.

Follow the link below to read the safety alert and find out how to work with heavy construction plant on housing sites.

Read the WorkSafe Victoria Safety Alert

What will WorkSafe be checking?

During the inspections on hydraulic mobile cranes operating on construction sites WorkSafe inspectors will be checking:

  • Licences to perform high risk work

  • Logbooks

  • Service records

  • Crane set up - fully extended and pinned outriggers, bog mats or timbers in place, geo tech report / engineers sign off (if required)

  • Exclusion zones (around the crane and under the load path to destination)

  • If the crane is operating near overhead / underground assets; has it been controlled?

  • For any obvious defects

  • Operational warning devices

  • Where the crane is set up adjacent to a road / rail; is traffic management in place

  • Load charts and manual

  • Appropriate lifting gear being used and within load capacity

  • Lifting gear inspections

  • SWMS

Prohibition notices will be issued where inspectors identify any immediate risk to health and safety that is not rectified during the visit. Improvement notices will be issued where other instances of non-compliance with occupational health and safety laws are identified.

Useful resources

The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA)

CICA provide resources, develop initiatives and advocate on matters of concern to the crane industry of Australia.

Visit their website for more information.

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