FAQ >> New requirements about crane maintenance and competent inspecting person

New requirements about crane maintenance and competent inspecting person

What changes have been made affecting crane maintenance and inspection?

Owners of mobile and tower cranes must now declare on plant registration application and renewal forms that their cranes have been effectively maintained and inspected by a competent person.

What are the new requirements for cranes?

For new applications of plant registration, owners of mobile and tower cranes now need to declare that:

  • the crane was inspected no more than six months before the application, by a competent person who certified that the crane had been maintained to the instructions of the designer and manufacturer, and with relevant Australian Standards, codes of practice and legislation.

For renewals of plant registration, owners of mobile and tower cranes now need to declare that:

  • for the 12 months before the application, the crane was maintained to the instructions of the designer and manufacturer, and with relevant Australian Standards, codes of practice and legislation
  • before the application, the crane was inspected by a competent person who certified that the crane was maintained to the instructions of the designer and manufacturer, and with relevant Australian Standards, codes of practice and legislation.

In addition, all cranes need to be inspected every 10 years by a suitably qualified engineer to ensure their safety.

Why were the new requirements introduced?

A mobile and tower crane compliance campaign found that some cranes did not receive annual safety inspections as set out in the Australian Standards (AS 2550 part 1, 4 and 5). For this reason, more specific regulatory controls have been introduced.

While the inspection requirements for cranes are new, under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 owners must already ensure it is maintained in a condition that ensures it is safe to use.

The new requirements will reduce crane incidents in Queensland.

Who is a competent person for crane inspections?

A competent person is someone who:

  • has a sound knowledge of relevant Australian Standards, relevant codes of practice and other relevant legislation
  • has a sound knowledge and competence in the risk management process for the erection, operation, maintenance, repair, alteration and dismantling of cranes
  • has acquired through training, qualifications or experience, the skills to design procedures for the inspection, maintenance and repair of the crane.

For 10-year inspections, the competent person must be an engineer registered under the Professional Engineers Act 2002 and competent to perform the task of certification. However, the regulatory requirement to engage a professional engineer will not be introduced until the beginning of 2007.

Can I do my own crane inspection, or have one of my employees inspect the crane?

Yes. You or an employee can do the inspection if you are a competent person (refer to definition on previous page).

What must the competent person inspect?

The crane manufacturer/supplier’s instructions and Australian Standards can guide the inspection. Inspection certificate forms can be found in the AS 2550 series of Australian Standards. Checklists are also included in some cranes’ service manuals.

There is no specific report that the competent person must complete. However, the report must provide sufficient information for the owner to declare that the crane has been certified to have been maintained in accordance with the instructions of the designer and manufacturer, and with relevant Australian Standards, relevant codes of practice and other relevant legislation and that the crane is safe to use.

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