Product Overview

This Crane Workbox and Personnel Hoisting SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to control the risks associated with lifting, transferring and lowering personnel using cranes, workboxes and man baskets. It is a comprehensive document that brings together multiple aspects of crane-based personnel hoisting to support WHS compliance and safe management of High Risk Construction Work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Selection, inspection and certification of crane workboxes, man baskets and personnel cages prior to use
• Safe cage hoisting procedures, including attachment, rigging configuration and controlled lifting operations
• Lifting a person over water, including emergency retrieval planning, lifejackets and rescue equipment requirements
• Personnel transfer using cranes between structures, vessels, wharves or platforms under varying site conditions
• Use of man baskets for temporary access to height, including communication protocols and exclusion zones
• Operation of crane workboxes for short-duration tasks such as inspection, maintenance and minor repairs at height
• Verification of crane capacity, load charts and environmental limits when hoisting personnel
• Management of fall protection, harnesses, anchor points and secondary attachment systems for occupants
• Establishment of no-go zones, spotters and traffic management around crane and suspended workbox areas
• Pre-start checks, toolbox talks and competency verification for crane operators, doggers and riggers
• Emergency response planning for suspended loads, crane malfunction, medical events and rescue from height or over water
• Communication systems between crane operator, dogger and personnel in the workbox, including radios and hand signals
• Weather monitoring and control measures for wind, lightning and other environmental conditions affecting personnel lifts

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for crane companies, construction and marine contractors, riggers, doggers, principal contractors and site supervisors involved in personnel lifting using cranes, workboxes, cages and man baskets.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance on preventing falls when personnel are lifted in workboxes or man baskets
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Control measures for cranes and associated lifting equipment
• Safe Work Australia – Construction Work Code of Practice: Requirements for planning and managing high risk construction activities involving cranes
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Work: Principles for risk management when hoisting personnel and working over water
• AS 2550 Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use (series): Requirements for the safe use and operation of cranes used for personnel lifting
• AS 1418 Cranes, hoists and winches (series): Design and operational requirements for cranes and lifting equipment
• AS/NZS 1891 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (series): Requirements for harnesses, lanyards and fall-arrest systems used in workboxes
• AS/NZS 1892 Portable ladders: Reference for access arrangements to and from workboxes where ladders are used
• AS/NZS 4991 Lifting devices: Requirements for the design and use of lifting devices including personnel workboxes
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017