Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, practical system for managing pedestrian movements around crane operations on Australian worksites. It helps businesses control high‑risk interactions between people, vehicles and lifting activities, supporting WHS compliance while keeping projects moving safely and efficiently.

Crane operations create a dynamic and high‑risk environment where pedestrians, mobile plant and suspended loads often occupy the same space. Without a structured approach to pedestrian management, the likelihood of struck‑by incidents, load swings into walkways, and unauthorised access to exclusion zones increases significantly. This Pedestrian Management around Crane Sites SOP provides a robust, step‑by‑step framework for planning, setting up, operating and demobilising crane work areas with pedestrian safety at the centre.

Developed specifically for Australian construction, civil and industrial sites, the procedure aligns with WHS duties for managing the risks of plant and mobile equipment. It guides you through practical controls such as exclusion zones, spotters, traffic management plans, signage, communication protocols and monitoring. By implementing this SOP, businesses can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the risk of serious incidents, and give supervisors and workers a clear, consistent method for safely managing foot traffic in and around crane lifts, whether for short‑term picks or long‑duration tower crane operations.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of pedestrians being struck by cranes, loads or associated mobile plant.
• Ensure clear, enforceable exclusion zones and walkways are established and maintained around crane operations.
• Support compliance with Australian WHS laws and crane‑related Codes of Practice and guidance material.
• Standardise communication between crane crews, traffic controllers and site personnel during lifting activities.
• Demonstrate due diligence to clients, regulators and principal contractors through a documented, repeatable process.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Crane Operators
• Doggers and Riggers
• WHS Managers
• Construction Project Managers
• Traffic Controllers
• Principal Contractors
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Facilities Managers for Large Sites
• Civil Works Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Pedestrians struck by moving cranes or associated mobile plant (e.g. trucks, telehandlers)
• Pedestrians struck or crushed by suspended or swinging loads
• Unauthorised entry into crane operating or slewing zones
• Trips, slips and falls due to poorly defined pedestrian routes around crane set‑up areas
• Vehicle–pedestrian collisions in shared access ways near crane loading zones
• Reduced visibility and blind spots around cranes and lifting operations
• Distraction or miscommunication between crane operators, doggers and spotters affecting pedestrian safety
• Exposure to falling objects from lifting operations above pedestrian areas

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Legal Obligations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Principal Contractor, Crane Operator, Dogger/Rigger, Traffic Controller, Workers)
• 4.0 Planning Pedestrian Management for Crane Operations
• 5.0 Site Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification
• 6.0 Design and Implementation of Exclusion Zones
• 7.0 Pedestrian Routes, Crossings and Access Control
• 8.0 Traffic Management Interface (Vehicles, Mobile Plant and Pedestrians)
• 9.0 Signage, Barriers and Physical Controls
• 10.0 Communication Protocols and Use of Spotters
• 11.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Pre‑Lift, During Lift and Post‑Lift
• 12.0 Managing Work at Heights and Overhead Loads Above Pedestrian Areas
• 13.0 Monitoring, Enforcement and Corrective Actions
• 14.0 Emergency Response and Incident Management around Crane Sites
• 15.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 16.0 Inspection, Review and Continuous Improvement of Pedestrian Management Controls
• 17.0 Document Control and Record Keeping

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and equivalent state and territory legislation)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth and equivalent state and territory regulations) – Plant and Mobile Plant sections
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Cranes
• Safe Work Australia – Traffic Management Guide for Workplaces
• AS 2550 series: Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use
• AS 3845.1: Road safety barrier systems and devices
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems