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Operating a mobile crane (slewing/non-slewing)?

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) recently released the technical guidance note - Operating a mobile crane (slewing/non-slewing).

From 30 August 2009 an employer must not allow a person in charge of and/or operating a mobile crane (slewing/non-slewing) to also undertake their own dogging work or supervise a trainee dogger, even if the operator is also a licensed dogger.

The purpose of this guidance note is to clarify whether or not a person who holds both a mobile crane (slewing/non-slewing) licence and a dogging licence can:

• perform their own dogging work (i.e. leaving the crane operator's controls); or
• supervise and/or direct a trainee dogger at the same time as operating the crane (slewing/non-slewing).

WHSQ has determined, supported by a national decision of occupational health and safety authorities, that a mobile crane operator, working without a dogger, is not in a position to:

• exercise judgement in relation to the method of load slinging and take up of slings
• rectify any emerging situation involving a trainee, or
• make judgements on load security and slinging position and landing of the load while the crane is in operation or is mobile.

The primary role of the crane operator is to perform the function of the crane operation in a safe manner. A crane operator’s ability to perform this primary function is limited if he or she is required to leave the crane cabin to undertake/supervise dogging functions and slinging activities.

Further information
More information and practical advice on the slinging and directing of loads suspended from cranes, can be found in:

• A Guide for doggers (PDF, 3.3 MB), Safety Information Handbook and
• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2006 (PDF, 648 kB)

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