Bridge and gantry cranes safety inspections in WA

WorkSafe WA commenced an inspection program to look at safety standards of bridge and gantry cranes in a wide range of workplaces in Western Australia.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said the inspections focused on raising awareness of the safety risks and ensuring that employers had the information required to comply with the laws: “This inspection program is part of an ongoing program of proactive inspections aimed at providing employers with information on how to make workplaces safer.

“There are thousands of these types of cranes in use across the state - most factories, warehouses and workshops have at least one of these cranes. WorkSafe inspectors have encountered many mechanical failures with these cranes over the years and felt that this warranted a program to check as many of them as possible.”

The program inspects cranes of all lifting capacities in both metropolitan and major regional areas of the state with the aid of a checklist to ensure consistency in inspections.

Some of the areas of focus for the program are:

• whether cranes have been design registered if required;
• whether any alterations have been made to the cranes;
• that maintenance and inspection programs are in use;
• the general condition of the cranes;
• access for maintenance - that ladders and other methods of access are safe;
• that adequate records are being kept of maintenance, inspection and testing;
• that crane operators and doggers are trained and licensed if required; and
• lifting gear is in good working order, including chains, slings and attachments.

“Under WA’s occupational safety and health laws, employers have a responsibility to properly maintain items of plant in the workplace,” Lyhne continued. “Our inspectors have noticed that there are many ageing overhead travelling cranes in WA workplaces and want to make sure that they are being properly maintained so they do not fail and cause an injury.

“Employers also have an obligation to ensure these cranes are being maintained, inspected and operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions but, in some cases, the manufacturer is no longer in existence and Australian standards then must be followed.

“Like all WorkSafe’s proactive inspection programs, this one aims to raise awareness and provide employers with information, but inspectors will take enforcement action if necessary. We firmly believe that raising awareness with proactive campaigns is the best way in which to lessen the risk of work-related injury and illness.”