Man Cage & Work Cage Operations SWMS
Man cage and work cage operations — pre-use inspection, attachment to crane hook, communication protocols, maximum occupants, lift plan, and emergency descent procedure.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Man cage and work cage operations involve lifting workers via crane-suspended cage for elevated work where scaffolding or EWPs are impractical. Triggers WHS Regulation 2025 s.225 strict controls, AS 1418.17:1996 cage compliance, and HRCW Category 4 obligations including documented lift plan and licensed crane operator.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Fatal fall, multiple fractures
Cage drop, occupant fatality
Crush, impact, uncontrolled movement
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Pre-use inspection of cage, shackles, hook latch; verify SWL placard and AS 1418.17 compliance certificate.
- 2Documented lift plan, exclusion zone, full-body harness with lanyard anchored inside cage to designated point.
- 3Licensed C0/C4 crane operator, dedicated dogger with two-way radio, emergency manual descent procedure briefed.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Mandates man cage use only when no safer alternative exists.
Design, construction and certification of crane-supported man cages.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Workers suspended in cage above ground level — fall, dropped load and cage failure exposure.
SWMS mandatory before work starts; stop work if controls fail.
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS template aligned to WHS Regulation 2025
- ✓State-specific legislation and Codes of Practice schedule
- ✓Project-specific hazard and risk register
- ✓Worker sign-on and daily review register
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011 s.19 — primary duty of care
- WHS Regulation 2025 r.162 — HRW Licence C0/C4
- Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice