Personnel and Materials Hoist Erection and Dismantling SWMS

For hoist erectors, riggers, scaffolders and the builders who engage them. It follows the work in order, from foundation and tie planning and crane lifts of mast sections to climbing, landing gates, commissioning and dismantling, and names the Queensland licences and registration that apply. Operating the finished hoist is outside this document.

Two items are ticked for you: a fall of more than 2 metres from the mast and building edges, and movement of powered mobile plant, because a mobile crane or truck works in the area (WHS Regulation s 291), so a SWMS is required before the work starts (s 299). Add the energised electrical installations item if the supply connection or power lines are close to the work, and any other item that applies.

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 Personnel and Materials Hoist Erection and Dismantling SWMS?

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

• Mast collapse from a weak foundation, late ties or wrong sequence
• Falls from the mast, tie frames and building edges
• Crane overturn and dropped mast sections
• Struck by loads and crush during slinging and bolting
• Dropped bolts and tools striking people below
• Falls through open landing edges
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Electric shock when connecting the supply
• Wind on suspended and partly erected mast
• Safety devices not tested before use
• Manual handling of heavy sections

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
• Is carried out in an area at a workplace in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant

Licences, Training and Competency

• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work, and site induction
• Setting up or dismantling a hoist is rigging work (Schedule 19): high risk work licence in the rigging class that covers the hoist, being basic rigging for hoists (Schedule 3 item 5(2)(b)) and intermediate rigging for hoists with jibs and self-climbing hoists (item 6(b))
• Scaffolding classes also cover some hoists: basic scaffolding for cantilevered materials hoists with a maximum working load of 500 kg (item 1(b)) and advanced scaffolding for cantilevered hoists (item 3(a))
• A rigger holding the licence that qualifies them for the hoist, who only sets up or dismantles it, does not also need the crane operator class (WHS Regulation s 82(4)); that exception names rigging licences only, so a scaffolder works under the scaffolding classes above
• Trainees work only under the supervision of a licence holder (WHS Regulation s 82(1))
• Dogging high risk work licence (or a rigging class) for anyone who slings the mast sections or directs the crane operator when the load is out of view
• High risk work licence for the class of the crane or truck-mounted crane lifting the sections
• Licensed electrician to connect the hoist to the supply (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55)
• Competent person to inspect, test and commission the hoist before first use, and engineer to confirm the foundation and the tie loads on the structure

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2024
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• WHS Regulation: s 81 and s 82 (licences), Schedule 3 items 1, 3, 5, 6, 19 and 20, Schedule 19 (hoist, rigging work, dogging work), Schedule 5 item 1.6 (plant design registration), s 291 (high risk construction work), ss 306A-306Q (falls), ss 315B-315M (falling objects)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead electric line exclusion zones (ss 10-13 and schedule 2) and s 140 (AS/NZS 3012)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (distances come from the 2026 Regulation)

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.