Product Overview

This Mobile Crane Operation SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for mobile and truck-mounted crane activities on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of mobile crane operations to support WHS compliance and safer lifting practices from arrival on site through to demobilisation.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Arrival and departure of mobile and truck-mounted cranes to and from site, including traffic management and exclusion zones
• Selection, setup, and positioning of cranes, including ground assessment, packing, and stabiliser/outrigger deployment
• Boundary marking for crane operations to separate plant from pedestrians and other site activities
• Safe climbing into and out of cranes, including three-point contact and access/egress housekeeping
• Adjustment, testing, and monitoring of load moment indicators (LMIs) and other safety devices prior to and during lifting
• Assessing wind speed and weather conditions before lifting loads and applying deration or postponement controls
• Boom length adjustment and configuration, including telescoping, luffing, and radius management
• Operation of boom trucks and truck-mounted cranes for loading, unloading, and material placement tasks
• Controlled lowering and lifting of materials, with clear communication protocols and use of dogmen/riggers
• Counterweight management, including installation, removal, transport, and secure storage
• Use of concrete kibbles and other lifting attachments, including inspection, rigging, and controlled discharge
• Safe use of cranes and derricks for general lifting operations in construction and industrial environments
• Crane servicing and maintenance activities, including lockout/tagout and isolation procedures
• Crane dismantling, demobilisation, and pack-up, including sequencing and interaction with other plant
• Emergency procedures for crane incidents, near misses, and unplanned events such as powerline contact or loss of load
• Derrick assembly, dismantling, and configuration, including pinning, bolting, and stability verification
• Formal load testing procedures, including proof load testing, dynamic testing, and no-load functional checks
• Compliance with statutory inspection regimes (e.g., LOLER), including pre-use checks and certification records
• Emergency descent and evacuation procedures for crane operators, including rescue from elevated cabs
• Fire prevention and suppression measures on cranes, including fuel system integrity and onboard extinguishers
• Operation of cranes in restricted visibility or without direct line-of-sight, including use of spotters, cameras, and remote signalling
• Use of height limiters, anti-two-block devices, and other secondary safety systems beyond LMIs
• Lifting operations over or from water, including barge stability, sling corrosion, and recovery planning
• Control of dropped object hazards during crane operations, including tool tethering and exclusion zones beneath suspended loads
• Safe removal of obstructed or snagged loads using controlled techniques and secondary support
• Use of personal fall protection and restraint when working near or on crane structures during setup or maintenance
• Navigation and movement of cranes on congested or uneven terrain, including slope management and underground service clearance
• Post-lift safety verification, including equipment stowage, load path clearance, and site reinstatement

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for mobile crane operators, truck-mounted crane operators, dogmen/riggers, construction contractors, precast and concrete crews, and site supervisors responsible for managing crane operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on managing risks associated with plant, including cranes, on worksites
• Construction Work Code of Practice: Requirements for planning and carrying out construction work, including crane and lifting operations
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Controls for access/egress to cranes and work at height associated with setup and maintenance
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls for crane activities
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Cranes: Industry guidance for the safe use of mobile and truck-mounted cranes
• AS 2550 Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use (relevant parts): Requirements for the safe use and operation of cranes
• AS 1418 Cranes, hoists and winches – Design and construction (relevant parts): Technical requirements for crane design and safety features
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017