Overhead Crane SWMS

For workshops, factories and yards that use overhead bridge or gantry cranes. It follows the work from the pre-use check and lift planning through slinging, travel and landing to isolation, rail inspection at height and fault response. It does not cover mobile or tower cranes.

Operating an overhead crane in a workshop is not construction work, so the high risk construction work list in the WHS Regulation (s 291) does not apply, no item is pre-ticked and s 299 does not require a SWMS for it; the document works as a written safe work procedure and task risk assessment, and the fall of more than 2 metres item (s 291(a)) should be ticked on the form only if the rail inspection or other work at height forms part of construction work.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Overhead Crane SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Dropped loads from failed brakes, gear or hooks
• Overloading the crane or lifting gear
• Loads slipping from poorly rigged slings
• Load swing striking people and machinery
• Loads carried over people
• Collisions between cranes on the same runway
• Crane stopped with a load suspended
• Unexpected movement during maintenance
• Contact with energised conductor bars
• Falls from the crane bridge and runway
• Hand injuries and manual handling of lifting gear

High Risk Construction Work

No high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this work is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick the items that apply to your job, such as a fall risk of more than 2 metres or work where powered mobile plant is moving.

Licences, Training and Competency

• High risk work licence for the bridge and gantry crane class where Schedule 3 item 12 applies to the crane (operated from a permanent cabin or control station on the crane, or by remote control with more than 3 powered operations); that class includes load estimation and slinging
• High risk work licence in the dogging class, or a higher rigging class, for anyone who slings a load or directs the operator when the load is out of the operator’s view, unless their crane licence covers slinging (Schedule 19, dogging work)
• Operators of floor-controlled pendant cranes trained and verified as competent on that crane, its controls, its rated capacity and the lifting gear used; the Regulation does not say whether a pendant counts as a control station or remote control, so confirm with the regulator whether item 12 applies to each crane and record the answer
• Trainees work only under the supervision of a licence holder while training towards the licence
• Competent person to inspect and maintain the crane and its lifting gear
• Licensed electrician for isolation, testing and repair of the crane’s electrical equipment, supply and conductor bars
• Training in the fall protection system used and in rescue for anyone who works on the crane bridge or runway
• Boom-type EWP licence (boom length 11 m or more) for any EWP used to reach the runway; documented training for other EWPs
• General construction induction training card (white card) if the crane is used on a construction site
• Site induction

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• 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
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): electrical work licensing
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): energised electrical work
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2021 – Managing electrical risks in the workplace
• Technical standards listed in the Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021: AS 1418 (series) Cranes, hoists and winches; AS 2550 (series) Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use; AS 4991 Lifting devices

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (14 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.