Self-Erecting Tower Crane SWMS

Suits builders, crane hirers and crane crews using self-erecting tower cranes on small to mid-sized building sites. It covers site and footing planning, erection by the maker’s procedure, commissioning, the base barricade, operation, power lines and other cranes, out-of-service and dismantling.

Erecting and using a tower crane for building work is construction work (WHS Regulation s 289), and a SWMS is required before high risk construction work starts (s 299). No item is pre-ticked, because a self-erecting crane erects and folds by its own mechanism and its tower is not normally climbed. Tick the fall of more than 2 metres item where a person climbs the tower or works on the jib, and the energised electrical item where the crane works near live power installations.

New to SWMS? Read What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?

What Is Covered In Our Self-Erecting Tower Crane SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Plan the installation and site” to “Load and transport the crane”. The hazards and controls include:

• Footing and base failure
• Crane collapse in wind
• Tower or boom falling during erection
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Collision with other cranes and structures
• Counterweight strike at the base
• Dropped loads from poor slinging
• Loss of remote control signal
• Falls from the mast and boom
• Unauthorised use of the remote
• Ballast handling
• Dismantling and transport

High Risk Construction Work

None of the high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this job is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick any that apply on your site.

Licences, Training and Competency

• High risk work licence for the self-erecting tower crane class (Schedule 3 item 9)
• Dogging or rigging high risk work licence for slinging and for directing the operator when the load is out of view (Schedule 3 items 4 to 7)
• Persons erecting and dismantling are trained in the maker’s procedure for that crane; a person whose work is limited to setting up or dismantling may hold a rigging licence that qualifies them instead of the crane licence (WHS Regulation s 82(4))
• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work
• Site induction
• Competent person to inspect the crane before use and after storms
• First aid certificate for the person appointed as the job’s first aider

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Tower Crane Code of Practice 2017
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 A4 landscape pages). Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 10 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety boots; hard hat; high-visibility clothing; safety glasses
• Emergency arrangements for: crane collapse or load fall, power line contact and rescue of a person at height
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed November 2026.