Tower Crane SWMS

For crane operators, doggers, builders and principal contractors running a tower crane (including remote-controlled and self-erecting types) on a construction project. It follows the work from lift planning and inspection to climbing the tower, operating and communicating, slinging and lifting, and securing the crane at the end of the shift.

New to SWMS? Read What is a safe work method statement?

What is covered in our tower crane SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Plan lifts and set up the work area” to “Shut down and secure the crane”. The hazards and controls include:

• Dropped or swinging loads over workers and the public
• Falls climbing the tower and working in the cab
• Crane overload, collapse or structural failure
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Collisions with other cranes, plant and structures
• Lost signals between operator and dogger
• Wind, storms and lightning
• Operator injured or ill in the cab
• Loads slipping from slings, boxes and bundles
• Delivery vehicles at the loading area
• Counterweight swing at self-erecting cranes
• Heat illness in the cab

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 for the tower crane class (self-erecting tower crane class for a self-erecting crane) for the operator
• High risk work licence in the dogging class, or a higher rigging class (Schedule 3), for anyone who slings a load or directs the operator when the load is out of the operator’s view; the operator does not sling their own load
• Crane-specific familiarisation training before first use, recorded and signed by the operator and the PCBU
• Refresher training for operators, doggers and riggers at least every three years (recommended by the approved Tower Crane code)
• Training in the crane’s access, fall protection and rescue equipment
• Safety observer trained for the role where the crane works near overhead power lines
• General construction induction training card (white card), and site induction

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
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones, Schedule 2
• 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 (17 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages. Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 11 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, with a chin strap when climbing the tower; high-visibility clothing; safety glasses and gloves for slinging and rigging
• Emergency arrangements for: operator ill or injured in the cab, crane or load touches a power line and crane collapse, dropped load or structural failure
• 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.

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