SafeWork NSW Inspectors Targeting Cranes in Compliance Blitz

SafeWork NSW Inspectors will be conducting a statewide crane compliance blitz this month.

This comes after a new report from SafeWork’s Centre for Work Health and Safety and RMIT, which examined the factors contributing to crane incidents.

The study found a number of key contributors to potential incidents including:

• Worker competence
• Time pressures associated with the delivery of projects
• Internationalisation of construction and sub-contracting practices
• Operation of substandard machinery

As a result of the findings, SafeWork inspectors will be checking safe slinging and load movements across worksites, and issues on-the-spot fines for any crane operators without a valid high-risk work licence.

Kevin Anderson, NSW’s Minister for Better Regulation has stated:

“Crane incidents are preventable and the injuries and damage they can cause if used unsafely is just too high,” Mr Anderson said.

“This compliance blitz is all about putting safety first, and our inspectors will be visiting worksites to promote and teach safe mobile crane use as well as checking operators are using them in the right way, with the right licence.”

For more information on crane safety visit SafeWork NSW.

For a look at the research summary visit the Centre for Work Health and Safety website.