Mobile Crane Lifts SWMS
Franna, city crane, slewing mobile crane and hydraulic truck-crane operations — lift-plan development, outrigger placement on variable ground, tandem lifts, man-basket, load-chart interpretation, overhead power-line clearance, travel-in-work-mode rules.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Mobile crane operations — including Franna pick-and-carry cranes, city cranes, slewing mobile cranes and hydraulic truck-mounted cranes — represent some of the highest-consequence lifting work performed on Australian construction sites. A single error in lift planning, outrigger placement, load chart interpretation or rigging selection can result in crane overturn, dropped loads, contact with overhead power lines, or fatal crush injuries to riggers and dogmen working in the swing radius. Every mobile crane lift on a construction site is High Risk Construction Work under Schedule 3 of the Model WHS Regulations and requires a documented Safe Work Method Statement before work commences.
This SWMS is built around the legal framework of the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011, the WHS Regulation 2025 (specifically Chapter 4 Part 4.5 — Plant, and Chapter 6 — Construction Work), and the technical requirements of AS 2550.1 and AS 2550.5 covering mobile crane safe use. It addresses the high-risk work licence classes required for the operator (CN, C2, C6, CV), the dogger (DG) and rigger (RB/RI/RA), and embeds the Crane Code of Practice obligations for lift studies, ground-bearing assessments and exclusion zones.
Under section 38 of the WHS Regulation, a PCBU must ensure a SWMS is prepared before HRCW commences, must be available for inspection by the regulator, and must be revised if controls are not working. Failure to prepare and implement a compliant SWMS for crane lifts is a Category 2 or Category 3 offence carrying penalties exceeding $1.8 million for a body corporate. This document discharges that obligation.
Hazards identified
14 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Catastrophic crane collapse, fatality of operator and ground crew, structural damage
Electrocution of operator, dogger, riggers and ground personnel; arc flash burns
Two-block, boom buckling, structural failure and dropped load
Crush fatality of personnel below, damage to plant and structures
Fatal crushing of workers in the tail-swing exclusion zone
Sudden overload of one crane, cascading collapse, dropped load
Worker fall fatality, traumatic injury
Crane tip-over, load swing into structures or personnel
Loss of load control, crane destabilisation, dropped load
Load contact with structure, personnel struck by load
Struck-by or crush fatality from dropped or swinging load
Uncontrolled load descent, dropped load incident
Outrigger collapse into trench, crane overturn
Reaction-time degradation, judgement error, lift incident
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Develop a documented lift study and lift plan signed by a competent person before any lift exceeding 75% of rated capacity, all tandem lifts, all suspended personnel lifts, and all lifts within 6.4m of overhead powerlines (in accordance with the Crane Code of Practice and AS 2550.1)
- 2Verify ground bearing capacity through geotechnical assessment or engineered crane mat/timber pack design — outriggers fully extended and pinned, with bearing pressure calculated against substrate capacity (minimum 1.5 safety factor)
- 3Confirm operator holds the correct class of HRWL (CN slewing >100t, C6 slewing ≤60t, C2 slewing ≤20t, CV vehicle loading, C1 non-slewing >3t) and dogger holds DG licence; sight licences before mobilisation
- 4Establish 'No-Go Zones' around overhead powerlines per the relevant state Electrical Safety Code (typically 3m for ≤132kV, 6m for >132kV unless ENSP authority issued); install tiger tails or de-energise where required
- 5Interpret load chart for actual configuration — boom length, radius, fly jib, counterweight, on-rubber vs on-outriggers — and document gross capacity, deductions for rigging gear, and net SWL on the lift plan
- 6Conduct documented pre-start inspection to AS 2550.5 covering hooks, latches, hoist rope, hydraulics, outrigger pads, LMI/RCI function test, and load chart legibility; record in plant logbook
- 7Establish exclusion zones with hard barriers or spotters covering the full slew radius (tail-swing) and load travel path; only the dogger and authorised riggers may enter; signage and barricades installed before lift
- 8Use only tagged and inspected lifting gear compliant with AS 1418, AS 4991 (lifting devices) and AS 3775 (chain slings); verify WLL, inspection date, and sling angle factor for the specific lift geometry
- 9Cease lifting operations when wind speed at boom tip exceeds manufacturer specification (typically 9–12 m/s for general lifts, lower for high-windage loads); use calibrated anemometer at boom head
- 10Use only AS 1418.17-compliant workboxes for suspended personnel work, with secondary safety device, dedicated lift plan, fall arrest harness anchored inside the box, and operator remaining at controls throughout
- 11Implement standardised hand signals per AS 2550.1 Appendix or dedicated UHF channel for radio communication; one dogger only directs the lift; 'stop' signal honoured from any worker
- 12Maintain minimum 2m clearance from excavation/trench edges for outriggers, or engineer-certified shoring; never set up on backfilled ground without compaction testing
- 13Pick-and-carry (Franna) operations: travel only on graded firm surfaces ≤5° slope, load suspended ≤300mm above ground, taglines fitted, escort person walking ahead, load within pick-and-carry chart (not lift chart)
- 14Implement fatigue management per the lift plan — mandatory operator rest breaks every 2 hours of continuous lifting, hydration provided, shift length capped at 10 hours for crane operators
- 15Conduct toolbox talk and SWMS sign-on with all lift crew (operator, dogger, riggers, spotters) before each shift; review changes in load, weather or ground conditions
Applicable Codes of Practice
Sets duties for plant registration (cranes are registrable plant under Schedule 5), inspection, maintenance and safe use; mobile cranes >10t require design and item registration
Defines HRCW (s291) including mobile crane work; mandates SWMS preparation under s299 before work commences
Mandates HRWL classes CN, C2, C6, CV, C0, C1 for crane operation and DG for dogging; sighting and verifying licences is a regulatory duty
Primary technical standard for crane lift planning, ground assessment, exclusion zones and signal protocols
Mobile-crane-specific requirements for inspection, configuration changes, pick-and-carry and tandem lifts
Design standard referenced for verification of crane structural integrity and load chart validity
Mandatory standard for any suspended personnel lifting using a man-basket from a mobile crane
Approved Code of Practice admissible in court under s274 WHS Act; addresses lift studies, powerline proximity and tandem lifts
Sets the SWMS content, review and consultation requirements applicable to all HRCW including crane lifts
Standard for below-the-hook lifting devices, spreader beams, lifting clutches used in mobile crane lifts
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Mobile crane operation requires a high-risk work licence under WHS Regulation Schedule 3 and is expressly identified as High Risk Construction Work; preparation of a SWMS under s299 is mandatory before work commences
Suspended personnel work in a workbox (man-basket), riggers working at height on loads being lifted, and access to crane cab/superstructure all create fall risks exceeding 2m, triggering HRCW classification independent of the crane operation itself
Because this work falls within at least one HRCW category under Schedule 3 of the WHS Regulation, section 299 requires a SWMS be prepared before work starts, kept available at the workplace for inspection, and produced to an inspector on request. Failure to prepare a compliant SWMS is an offence under the WHS Regulation. A breach that exposes a person to risk of death or serious injury can be prosecuted as a Category 2 offence under s32 of the WHS Act, carrying maximum penalties of $1,799,240 for a body corporate and $359,847 for an officer (indexed 2024 values). Reckless conduct prosecuted as Category 1 carries up to 5 years imprisonment for individuals.
Who this is for
- →Crane hire companies and crane crewing contractors operating Franna, city, slewing mobile and truck-mounted cranes
- →Principal contractors and head builders engaging crane subcontractors who require a compliant SWMS as part of WHS pre-start documentation
- →Rigging and dogging contractors providing crews under labour-hire arrangements to crane operations
- →Civil construction, infrastructure, energy and resources project managers planning lifts on tier-1 and tier-2 sites
- →Plant operators and lift supervisors holding CN, C6, C2, CV or DG high-risk work licences
- →WHS managers and safety advisors responsible for verifying SWMS compliance before HRCW commences
What you receive
- ✓Fully editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS template — all fields unlocked and customisable to your project, ABN, PCBU details and crane configuration
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule covering NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT and ACT WHS/OHS variations and HRWL recognition
- ✓Pre-populated hazard register with 14 mobile-crane-specific hazards, consequence ratings and risk priority matrix
- ✓Worker sign-on register with space for name, HRWL class and number, signature and date — meeting consultation requirements under s47 WHS Act
- ✓Lift plan template aligned to AS 2550.1 covering load weight, radius, configuration, ground bearing and rigging schedule
- ✓Pre-start crane inspection checklist mapped to AS 2550.5 daily inspection requirements
- ✓Tandem lift and suspended personnel (workbox) supplementary control sheets
- ✓SWMS review log for documenting changes when controls fail or conditions change (s39 WHS Regulation)
- ✓PDF reference copy and printable site-pack version for crib-room display
- ✓Free updates for 12 months when legislation, codes or standards change
Worked example
A 60-tonne Liebherr LTM slewing mobile crane is engaged to lift a 12-tonne precast concrete panel onto level 3 of a commercial build in Parramatta. Before mobilisation, the crane supervisor opens this SWMS and the lift plan template, calculates the lift radius at 18m, and confirms from the load chart that the gross capacity at that radius with the 36m boom and 16t counterweight is 14.2t — leaving a 2.2t margin after deducting 0.5t of rigging gear. Ground bearing pressure under the loaded outrigger calculates at 18.4 t/m²; the geotechnical report shows the engineered hardstand will accept 25 t/m², so 1.2m × 1.2m timber crane mats are specified. The operator (CN licence), dogger (DG licence) and two riggers (RB) sign the SWMS at the pre-start, review the exclusion zone barricades, and confirm UHF channel 18 for communications. During the lift, wind speed climbs to 11 m/s — above the 9 m/s threshold set in the lift plan for this windage panel — and the dogger calls 'all stop'. The load is landed safely on its temporary stillage, the SWMS review log is updated noting wind cessation, and work resumes 40 minutes later when conditions stabilise. This demonstrates the SWMS functioning as a live document under s39 of the WHS Regulation, not a tick-and-flick exercise.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model) — sections 19 (primary duty of care), 32 (Category 2 offence), 47 (consultation duty)
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 — Chapter 4 Part 4.5 (Plant), Chapter 6 (Construction), Schedule 3 (HRCW), Schedule 5 (Registrable plant)
- Electrical Safety Act and Regulations (state-specific) — overhead powerline approach distances and ENSP authorisation
- Heavy Vehicle National Law — for road travel of mobile cranes between sites and chain of responsibility
- Environment Protection Act (state-specific) — for hydraulic spill containment from crane operations
- Workers Compensation Act (state-specific) — incident notification obligations following any crane-related injury
- Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
- Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
Frequently asked questions
Does this SWMS cover both Franna pick-and-carry operations and slewing mobile crane lifts?
Yes. The SWMS includes specific control measures for non-slewing articulated cranes (Frannas) operating in pick-and-carry mode — including travel-in-work-mode rules, ground gradient limits, tagline use and the requirement to use the pick-and-carry chart rather than the lift chart — as well as full slewing mobile crane controls for outrigger-supported lifts. Both modes are addressed because the hazard profile differs significantly.
Which high-risk work licence classes does this SWMS reference?
The SWMS references all relevant HRWL classes under the Model WHS Regulations: CN (slewing crane unlimited), C6 (slewing ≤60t), C2 (slewing ≤20t), C1 (non-slewing >3t including Frannas), CV (vehicle loading crane), C0 (tower crane — not applicable here but listed), and DG (dogging). Sighting and recording the operator's and dogger's licence number is built into the sign-on register.
Is a separate lift study required, or does this SWMS replace it?
A SWMS and a lift study are different documents serving different purposes. The SWMS addresses the work activity hazards and controls (a regulatory requirement under s299 WHS Regulation), while the lift study is an engineering document for specific complex lifts (tandem, critical, >75% capacity, suspended personnel, near powerlines) required by AS 2550.1 and the Crane Code of Practice. This package includes a lift plan template that supports lift study development but does not replace engineered lift studies for critical lifts — those should be prepared by a competent rigging engineer.
How do I handle SWMS amendments when ground conditions or load changes mid-job?
Section 39 of the WHS Regulation requires a SWMS to be reviewed and revised if a control measure is not working or if circumstances change in a way that creates new risk. The package includes a SWMS review log — when ground conditions change, a load weight increases, weather deteriorates or the lift configuration changes, work must stop, the SWMS reviewed with the crew, controls updated, and re-signed before recommencement. This is non-negotiable and a common point of regulator scrutiny after incidents.
Does this SWMS comply with state-based variations to the model WHS laws?
Yes. While Victoria operates under the OHS Act 2004 (not the model WHS Act), and Western Australia adopted WHS in 2022, the controls in this SWMS map to the duties under all Australian jurisdictions. The state-specific legislation schedule included with the download identifies the equivalent regulatory provisions, HRWL recognition arrangements, and notification requirements for each state and territory.
How often must this SWMS be reviewed?
The SWMS must be reviewed: (1) before each new project or significant change in scope, (2) whenever a control measure is found to be inadequate or has failed, (3) after any notifiable incident under Part 3 of the WHS Act, (4) when new plant, personnel or methods are introduced, and (5) at least annually as best practice. Free updates are provided for 12 months from purchase to capture legislative or standard changes.