Product Overview

Summary: This Lifting and Hoisting Operations SOP provides a clear, step‑by‑step framework for planning, conducting and supervising lifting activities safely on Australian worksites. It helps businesses control critical risks associated with cranes, hoists, forklifts and rigging, while demonstrating compliance with WHS laws and industry standards.

Lifting and hoisting activities are among the highest-risk tasks on any Australian worksite, with the potential for dropped loads, crushing injuries, structural damage and serious near misses if not tightly controlled. This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a consistent, defensible method for planning, authorising and carrying out lifting operations using cranes, hoists, forklifts, chain blocks, mobile plant and other lifting equipment. It clarifies who is responsible for each stage of the lift, from pre-start checks and load assessment through to signalling, exclusion zones and post-lift inspections.

Developed for Australian conditions and WHS expectations, the SOP helps businesses move beyond informal “rules of thumb” to a documented, auditable system of work. It addresses common pain points such as poorly communicated lift plans, inadequate rigging selection, incompatible lifting points, congested work areas and pressure to “just get the load up”. By implementing this procedure, organisations can significantly reduce the likelihood of incidents, standardise training for operators and spotters, and provide clear evidence of due diligence when engaging contractors or responding to regulator enquiries.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of dropped loads, crush injuries and equipment failures during lifting operations.
• Ensure lifting and hoisting activities are planned, authorised and carried out in line with Australian WHS legislation and relevant standards.
• Standardise communication, signalling and exclusion zone management between operators, doggers, riggers and spotters.
• Improve equipment reliability through consistent pre-use inspections, defect reporting and maintenance controls.
• Demonstrate due diligence to clients, principal contractors and regulators with a documented, repeatable system of work.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Crane Operators
• Doggers and Riggers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Manufacturing Plant Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Engineering and Operations Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Dropped or swinging loads causing impact or crush injuries
• Overloading of lifting equipment leading to structural failure
• Incorrect rigging or attachment to unsuitable lifting points
• Collision between loads, plant, structures or overhead services
• Contact with overhead powerlines and electrical infrastructure
• Pinch and crush points during slinging, guiding and landing loads
• Equipment instability or tipping of cranes, forklifts and mobile plant
• Manual handling strains during preparation and rigging of loads
• Poor communication and signalling between operators and spotters
• Uncontrolled access to lifting zones by pedestrians or other workers

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Supervisors, Crane Operators, Doggers/Riggers, Spotters, Workers)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Competency, Licensing and Training Requirements
• 6.0 Planning Lifting and Hoisting Operations (including Lift Studies and Job Safety Analysis)
• 7.0 Pre-Start Checks and Equipment Inspection
• 8.0 Rigging Selection, Inspection and Use
• 9.0 Load Assessment, Stability and Centre of Gravity
• 10.0 Establishing Exclusion Zones and Traffic Management
• 11.0 Communication Protocols and Hand Signals
• 12.0 Step-by-Step Lifting and Hoisting Procedure
• 13.0 Working Near Overhead and Underground Services
• 14.0 Use of Mobile Plant for Lifting (Forklifts, Telehandlers, EWPs where applicable)
• 15.0 Environmental Considerations (wind, ground conditions, visibility)
• 16.0 Emergency Procedures and Incident Response
• 17.0 Post-Lift Activities and Shutdown
• 18.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Defect Management
• 19.0 Documentation, Records and Audit Requirements
• 20.0 Review, Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (particularly provisions relating to plant and high risk work)
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
• AS 2550 series: Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use
• AS 1418 series: Cranes, hoists and winches – Design and construction
• AS 4991: Lifting devices
• AS 1353: Flat synthetic-webbing slings
• AS 3775: Chain slings for lifting purposes
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (where working at height during lifting operations)
• State and territory specific guidance material (e.g. SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, WorkSafe Queensland) on crane and lifting operations