Ministers with responsibility for work health and safety have asked Safe Work Australia to review the high-risk work (HRW) licence framework for cranes to ensure the framework is relevant to contemporary work practices and equipment.
Consultation feedback
Safe Work Australia is seeking feedback on detailed proposals to improve crane licensing. These proposals are outlined in a Discussion Paper - Crane Licensing- Phase 2.
The discussion paper sets out 6 key proposals for changes that could be made to crane licensing to improve safety and ensure the licensing system keeps pace with changing work practices and technology. The purpose of the paper is to get feedback on these proposals and whether stakeholders think they could provide an effective future model for crane licensing.
The proposals are:
Organising licences by function rather than lifting capacity
Practical experience for crane operators
Introducing new licences for telehandlers, piling rigs and straddle carriers
Structural changes to align training to specific skills and crane functions, including by Incorporating some existing licences into other licence categories
A prerequisite training course for anyone operating cranes on a vessel over water, and
Improving the rigging licence framework to correct incongruities and reflect contemporary work practices and equipment.
Each proposal is expanded on in the discussion paper and includes questions for your feedback.
Consultation process
This discussion paper has been developed to seek feedback on specific proposals for improving crane licences.
Information and evidence gathered as part of this public consultation will be used to inform improvements to the HRW licensing framework for cranes in the model WHS laws, noting that some of the proposals included in this paper may be subject to further analysis, including on the potential costs and benefits.
Please note the proposals in this paper are offered for consultation purposes only. They are subject to change in response to further evidence, policy analysis and feedback from consultation processes. Ultimately any regulatory changes are subject to agreement by Safe Work Australia Members and, where significant, WHS ministers.
All stakeholders with an interest in crane HRW licensing are encouraged to participate in the consultation.
Making a submission
Submissions are sought by 11:59 pm (AEST) on Wednesday 31 July 2024. Submissions can be made by completing the survey under the Have your say section.
Demographic data will be collected as part of this process through completing the submission form.
You can decide how your submission is published on the Consultation Hub by choosing from the following options:
submission published with your name, your organisation’s name, or a pseudonym
submission published anonymously, or
submission not published.
Previous public consultation and changes to encompassment and dogging
Between May and June 2022, Safe Work Australia held an initial public consultation period seeking evidence of problems with crane licensing and asking for views on potential solutions to those problems. The consultation focused on perceived issues with the model WHS laws that may have a significant impact on workers and workplaces that use cranes, including concerns related to crane definitions, licence classes, and descriptions of HRW using cranes and how these might be best addressed. A summary of feedback received is available on Safe Work Australia’s crane licence review webpage.
Crane licence working group
Safe Work Australia is supported by a crane licence working group. It consists of representatives nominated by each WHS jurisdiction, unions, industry representatives and the Crane Industry Council of Australia. The working group provides expert technical advice and is not a decision-making body. Its role is to provide advice to Safe Work Australia Members on improvements to crane licensing.
About the model WHS laws
The model WHS laws are designed to protect all workers in Australia, wherever they work and whatever work they do. The laws were developed to provide a national, harmonised framework for WHS regulation in Australia.
The Commonwealth, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia have implemented the model WHS laws. Victoria has its own occupational health and safety laws.