Entertainment Chain Hoist and Truss Rigging SWMS

For production riggers, staging contractors and venue crews who hang chain hoists and truss for stages, concerts and events. It follows the job in order, from the rigging plot and rigging point checks through inspecting rated gear, working at height, lifting truss over drop zones and hanging loads, to wind, power lines and dismantling. Crane lifts, general rigging and dogging, and stage deck assembly are not covered here and need their own SWMS.

Treat rigging truss and chain hoists for an event as construction work: a truss rig is a structure (the WHS Act definition includes temporary and moveable framework) and putting prefabricated elements together into a structure is construction work (WHS Regulation s 289(1) and (2)(d)), and no regulator guidance treats event rigs differently. If a person could fall more than 2 metres it is high risk construction work and a SWMS is legally required (ss 291(a) and 299), so that item is ticked. You can also tick energised electrical installations if overhead lines are near an outdoor rig and powered mobile plant if EWPs or forklifts work in the area.

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 Entertainment Chain Hoist and Truss Rigging SWMS?

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

• Falls from height when rigging and hanging hoists
• Roof or grid structures overloaded by the rig
• Unrated, damaged or mismatched rigging gear
• Hoist or truss failure dropping a load
• Loads suspended over people
• Truss tilting or one hoist taking too much load
• Dropped tools, shackles and hoists
• Drop zones under overhead work
• Electric shock from hoist power and controls
• Hands crushed while joining truss
• Wind, storms and overhead power lines at outdoor events
• Fatigue and rushed bump-outs

High Risk Construction Work

These high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are already ticked because they are part of this work. Tick any others that apply to your job:

• Involves a risk of a person falling more than 2m

Licences, Training and Competency

• High risk work licence in the class that matches the work (WHS Regulation s 81 and Schedule 3): dogging, item 4 (slinging a load, including selecting and inspecting lifting gear, or directing a plant operator moving a load out of the operator’s view); basic rigging, item 5 (adds rigging work involving hoists); intermediate rigging, item 6 (adds hoists with jibs, cranes and dual lifts, among other work); advanced rigging, item 7 (adds gin poles, flying foxes and guyed derricks, among other work)
• Setting up or dismantling a chain hoist is rigging work (Schedule 19: setting up or dismantling hoists), and rigging work involving hoists is in the basic rigging class (Schedule 3 item 5(2)(b)), which is the minimum; WorkSafe Queensland’s rigger licence guidance lists ‘all hoists’ under intermediate rigging and item 6(f) lists dual lifts, so the person who directs a truss lifted by two or more hoists holds intermediate rigging; no operator class names a chain hoist (items 19 and 20 are materials hoists and personnel and materials hoists); sight written evidence of each licence before work starts (s 85(1))
• Trainee riggers work only under a licence holder’s supervision while training for the licence (ss 82(1) and 84), with written evidence of the training and of the supervisor’s licence sighted (s 85(2) and (3))
• Competent person to prepare the rigging plot and load calculations and to inspect hoists, truss and lifting gear
• Verified competency in the chain hoist model, controller and truss system used
• Training in fall protection, harness use and rescue for everyone who works at height or may carry out a rescue
• Licensed electrician for supply wiring, testing and repairs to hoists and distribution equipment (Electrical Safety Act 2002 ss 18 and 55); plugging a flexible cord into a socket outlet is not electrical work (s 18(2)(a))
• Boom-type elevating work platform licence (boom length 11 m or more, Schedule 3 item 21) for anyone operating one; EWP operation has its own SWMS
• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work, plus venue and site induction
• First aid equipment and facilities, and trained first aiders as the work and site need (WHS Regulation s 42), including someone who knows the rescue plan

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 Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work 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
• Work Health and Safety Consultation, Co-operation and Co-ordination Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones, Schedule 2 (uninsulated lines)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (distances come from the 2026 Regulation)
• AS 4991 Lifting devices and AS 2550 (series) Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use (examples of technical standards listed in Appendix D of the Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (19 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.