Putting you first at the centre of what we do. Keeping you healthy and safe at work. Supporting you when you are harmed at work. Ensuring your scheme works and is sustainable.
Cranes - Employer's duty of care
Under section 16 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (OHS Act) an employer must take all reasonably practicable steps to protect the health and safety at work of employees. This includes:
- providing and maintaining a working environment (including plant and systems of work) that is safe and without risk to employees’ health
- ensuring the workplace is safe
- providing and maintaining a safe means of access to, and egress from the workplace
- providing information, instruction, training and supervision necessary for employees to perform their work in a safe manner.
Under Part 4 and Schedule 6 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) certain cranes must be design registered and/or licensed with Comcare. This includes:
- gantry cranes with a safe working load greater than 5 tonnes or designed to handle molten metal or dangerous goods
- bridge cranes with a safe working load greater than 10 tonnes or designed to handle molten metal or dangerous goods
- mobile cranes with safe working load greater than 10 tonnes.
Part 4 of the Regulations also requires:
- hazard identification and risk assessment
- elimination or control of risks
- maintenance notification and design in accordance with Australian Standards 1418 and 2550.
Part 2 of the Regulations lists rigging (including dogging) work, and crane and hoist operation as high risk work. Operators of high risk plant are required to have appropriate State and Territory Certificates/Licences.
