WAH — Cherry Picker Operations SWMS
Truck-mounted and self-propelled cherry picker operations for tree work, signage, and elevated maintenance.
SWMS variants reference your state's WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This SWMS covers truck-mounted and trailer-mounted cherry picker operations for tree work, line maintenance, signage install, roadside furniture, and elevated maintenance on public and private land. It is distinct from the boom-lift SWMS: where a boom lift on a construction site is typically operated with a ground spotter, a cherry picker is routinely operated by a single practitioner on a roadside or front yard, reaching into tree canopy or utility aerial, with no second person. The single-operator isolation means that the SWMS must enforce controls that do not depend on a ground-level observer — onboard emergency lower, check-in calls, self-rescue capability, and automatic stop conditions. The cherry-picker worker is also frequently operating in traffic — the truck chassis is itself a traffic hazard, and the basket may swing over vehicle lanes. The SWMS addresses these single-operator and traffic-interface risks in addition to the standard EWP hazards. All work above 2 m triggers HRCW Category 3; boom length ≥ 11 m triggers the WP HRWL. Section 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 requires this SWMS. CIH-authored and aligned with AS 1418.10, AS 2550.10, and the Austroads guidelines for traffic management on roadsides.
Hazards identified
11 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Operator medical event or injury at height with no second person to initiate rescue; suspension-trauma onset within 5-30 minutes.
Laceration or amputation from chainsaw in confined basket space; operator loss of balance while restraining kickback.
Struck-by injury to vehicles and pedestrians below; a 50 kg limb falling 10 m reaches terminal velocity for fatal strike.
Electrocution from basket contact with LV or transmission line while working close to distribution conductors during tree or utility work.
Operator thrown from basket by boom oscillation after limb strike; fatal unless harness-restrained to boom anchor.
Operator or truck struck by passing vehicle during outrigger deployment or basket operation on the road edge.
Tip-over during boom extension when outrigger pad sinks into roadside camber fill or soft nature strip.
Inhalation and skin exposure to herbicide during spray application from basket; drift exposure to operator at elevation.
Sudden basket displacement from gust through tree branches; combined wind + limb-reaction force destabilising the platform.
Chainsaw, pruning saw, or hand tool falling from basket striking operator below or pedestrians in the exclusion zone.
Decision-error and reaction-time decline from long solo shifts; cumulative exposure over multi-day tree contracts.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Check-in call regime for single-operator work — operator calls the dispatch or safety observer by radio or mobile every 30 minutes while at elevation; missed check-in triggers an escalation protocol and dispatched rescue.
- 2Harness-to-boom attachment mandatory — AS/NZS 1891.1 full-body harness with shock-absorbing lanyard clipped to the manufacturer's boom anchor, never to the basket guardrail. This control prevents catapult ejection from limb-strike events.
- 3HRWL verification at pre-start — any cherry picker with boom length ≥ 11 m measured from the turntable requires the operator to hold a current WP High Risk Work Licence per WHS Regulation 2025 r. 309.
- 4Traffic management plan per the Austroads Traffic Control at Work Sites manual — road-corridor deployments require a Traffic Management Plan approved by the relevant road authority (Transport for NSW or local council); traffic controllers hold current training where lane closures are needed.
- 5Pre-start inspection per AS 2550.10 — basket, boom, outriggers, harness anchor, controls, emergency lower, and truck-chassis roadworthiness all checked; signed pre-start sheet filed.
- 6Outrigger bearing assessment — outrigger pads placed on hard level ground; timber or composite pads used on roadside verge or soft shoulder; no outrigger on bitumen softened by summer heat.
- 7Overhead line clearance — 3 m exclusion from LV, 6.4 m from transmission per SafeWork NSW; for tree work near distribution, the network operator is engaged to de-energise or install insulated line cover before basket approach.
- 8Tree-work chainsaw controls per the Code of Practice: Tree Work (industry code) — chainsaw tethered to harness with anti-drop lanyard; kickback-reducing chain; operator's right hand never in line with the guide bar.
- 9Exclusion zone below work area — barricades and signage at minimum 2 × tree-height radius; traffic controllers or spotters maintain the zone throughout the work.
- 10Chemical controls for herbicide work from basket — chemical-resistant coveralls, face shield, P2 with organic-vapour cartridge (AS/NZS 1716), and the application rate and wind limit follow the herbicide label; spraying stops when wind direction moves toward the truck or operator.
- 11Wind-speed stop at the manufacturer rating or 45 km/h (whichever is lower) for cherry picker operation; 35 km/h for basket work inside tree canopy due to branch reaction.
- 12Tool retention — all tools tethered to tool lanyards rated for the tool weight; chainsaw on dedicated tether; nothing is passed in or out of the basket at elevation.
- 13PPE baseline: AS/NZS 1891.1 harness, safety footwear with grip-rated sole (AS/NZS 2210.3), chainsaw-rated trousers (AS/NZS 4453) for tree work, arm guards, Grade II eyewear, hard hat with chin strap, Class 5 hearing protection for chainsaw (AS/NZS 1270), high-visibility long-sleeve shirt.
- 14Fatigue management — maximum 10-hour shift with breaks at 2-hour intervals; no solo cherry-picker work after 8 hours at elevation.
- 15Post-shift lock-off — truck parked with boom stowed, outriggers retracted, ignition keys removed; outside-hours theft prevention where the truck is left overnight.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Primary binding guidance for cherry picker operation and maintenance.
Governs harness-to-boom attachment and catapult-ejection prevention.
Applies where the cherry picker is engaged in construction-related tree clearance or signage work.
Applies to overhead line approach during line-clearance tree work.
Design standard for the cherry picker including boom and basket structural rating.
Safe-use standard for pre-start inspection and operator competency.
Governs traffic-management plan requirements for cherry picker use on or near public roads.
PPE standard for chainsaw-rated trousers used during tree work from the basket.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Cherry picker baskets routinely operate at 10-30 m elevation; fall from basket (including catapult ejection) is a continuous exposure throughout basket occupation.
A cherry picker is powered mobile plant and the basket typically hosts powered tools (chainsaw, pole saw, herbicide sprayer) as part of normal use.
Because cherry picker use triggers HRCW Categories 3 and 13, Section 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 requires this SWMS before operation. Section 300 maximum penalty for failure is $36,000 for a body corporate and $7,200 for an individual. Single-operator fatalities where no check-in regime existed consistently attract Category 1 or 2 prosecution under Sections 31-32 of the WHS Act 2011. Traffic-interface incidents may additionally attract Road Rules and Transport Administration Act offences, and line-strike incidents attract Electricity Supply Act offences with significant penalties.
Who this is for
- →Arborists operating truck-mounted cherry pickers for tree pruning and removal.
- →Utility line crews performing vegetation clearance near overhead distribution.
- →Signage and roadside-furniture installers working from the road reserve.
- →Facility-maintenance contractors with cherry pickers for lighting and CCTV install.
- →Self-employed operators running single-truck cherry picker businesses.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx, Word 2016 or newer compatible).
- ✓Title page with PCBU, ABN, site, WP ticket number, truck registration, and revision date fields.
- ✓Signed approval block for PCBU, operator, and any road-authority representative.
- ✓Hazard register with the 11 cherry-picker hazards above, each with inherent risk, controls, and residual risk on a 5x5 matrix.
- ✓Pre-start inspection checklist aligned to AS 2550.10 with truck-chassis and outrigger items.
- ✓Traffic-management plan template aligned to Austroads for roadside deployment.
- ✓Single-operator check-in protocol and rescue-escalation procedure.
- ✓Worker sign-on register and operator-competency evidence page.
- ✓Chainsaw and tool-tether register template.
- ✓Applicable legislation schedule and state-variance table.
Worked example
A self-employed arborist operating a 20 m truck-mounted cherry picker is engaged for removal of a Eucalyptus in a front yard in Turramurra, close to a residential LV service drop. Before work commences the arborist completes this SWMS: WP ticket and chainsaw competency are recorded; Ausgrid is engaged to de-energise the LV service for the morning at the customer's request; a Traffic Management Plan is prepared for the 4-hour kerb-side occupation with two traffic cones and a sign; the 30-minute radio check-in regime is established with the home base; outriggers are set on timber pads. A colleague is engaged as groundman to take loads off the basket via lowering line. The job completes in 3.5 hours with 14 limbs removed and 2 tool-tether stops — no dropped tools and no line contact.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — Section 19 primary duty of care; Section 27 officer due diligence.
- WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) — r. 78-80 (falls), r. 203-229 (plant), r. 298-300 (SWMS for HRCW), r. 309 (WP and other HRWLs).
- Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW) — Section 44 approach distances to overhead power lines.
- Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) — vehicle standards and on-road operation including traffic management.
- Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) — road-reserve occupancy for roadside work.
- Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — herbicide application and runoff controls.
Frequently asked questions
Can a cherry picker be operated solo?
Yes, for many tasks, but the SWMS requires a check-in call regime (30-minute intervals) with a named dispatch or safety observer who initiates a rescue if a check-in is missed. Suspension-trauma onset is 5-30 minutes per AS/NZS 1891.4, so the call regime must be compatible with that window. Fully solo with no check-in is not acceptable.
What traffic management is needed on a suburban street?
A Traffic Management Plan aligned to Austroads Part 7 and the relevant road authority's requirements. Suburban kerb-side occupation typically requires cones, work-ahead signs, and an approved plan retained on the truck. Arterial or multi-lane roads require lane-closure traffic controllers with current training.
Does every cherry picker need the WP HRWL?
Only where the boom length is 11 m or more measured from the turntable or slew centre. Small trailer-mounted cherry pickers under 11 m boom do not require the WP class, but the operator still requires documented familiarisation and competency training. The ticket requirement is defined in WHS Regulation 2025 r. 309.
Is chainsaw work allowed from the basket?
Yes, provided the chainsaw is tethered to the harness with an anti-drop lanyard, the operator wears chainsaw-rated PPE per AS/NZS 4453, and the tree-limb fall zone is barricaded below. Chainsaw work from a basket is the dominant arborist task and is covered by the SWMS controls; the kickback hazard in a confined basket is specifically addressed.
What if I need to work near a live overhead power line?
Engage the network operator (Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy, or relevant interstate equivalent) to de-energise the line or install insulated line cover before basket approach. Accredited Service Provider Level 1 contractors can also install temporary covers. Working to the clearance distance without the line de-energised or covered is not permitted under this SWMS.
Document details
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