After considerable effort and overcoming a number of obstacles, the Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) has launched its Mobile Cranes Assessment Programme in the state of Victoria.
Launched under the name of CraneSafe, a panel set up under this programme has appointed a number of assessors to inspect a class or number of classes of crane. Current categories are rough terrain crane, lattice boom truck crane, lattice boom crawler crane, hydraulic truck crane, articulated mobile crane and all terrain crane.
The initiative has the support not only of the crane hirers association, but also the state workplace health and safety authority (WorkSafe Victoria), the CFMEU union and major contractors.
Subject to successful completion of the inspection and payment of an inspection fee, CraneSafe issues a certificate to the owner, who can then display this on the crane. It is expected that contractors wary of their health and safety responsibilities will give preference to cranes with current WorkSafe certificates. Inspections are subject to audit by WorkSafe Victoria inspectors, and an assessor’s endorsement can be revoked without notice. An appeal process is available.
Western Australia followed Victoria into the programme in March, and New South Wales and Queensland will follow shortly.
