Green light for CICA, NHVR-developed code to mitigate hazards and risks in CoR.
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A Code of Practice to help mobile crane operators control hazards and risks on the road has been released, developed jointly by the Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
The two groups consulted stakeholders when developing the code, now a registered industry code of practice approved by the NHVR, which sets out a series of recommendations for mobile crane operators.
NHVR Chief Safety and Productivity Officer David Hourigan says the new code of practice will spell out specific methods to eliminate or mitigate hazards and risks for crane operators.
“Mobile cranes play a crucial role in the completion of construction and infrastructure projects across the country, but we also know there are unique hazards and risks associated with mobile cranes compared with other types of heavy vehicles,” David said.
“Often of substantial mass and dimensions, mobile cranes are regularly required in high-traffic urban areas, with operators and drivers also potentially faced with tight deadlines on high-pressure and dynamic construction sites.”
Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which is in place in all states except Western Australia and the Northern Territory, all parties involved in transport operations are required to ensure the safety of the heavy vehicle transport activities they control or influence, in what is called a Chain of Responsibility (CoR).
“That is why a Code such as this can be such a helpful and important tool – here you have relevant potential risks and hazards outlined, along with recommendations for how to eliminate or minimise them,” David said.
While the Code is not a law and doesn’t create new stand-alone obligations, it can be recognised by courts as a series of actions parties in the CoR can take to meet their Primary Duty obligations – to provide a safe workplace.
CICA Road Technical Engineer Alice Edwards says the Code of Practice will help the mobile crane industry.
“Mobile cranes play an essential role in our economy and the Mobile Crane Industry Code of Practice (the Crane Code) is the first code of practice for mobile crane on road transport activities,” she said.
“The code identifies hazards and risks associated with driving a mobile crane on the road and suggests control measures that can be referenced by individual companies to build their own safety management systems.
“With input from crane industry members, road managers and heavy vehicle operation experts, the Crane Code will be an important and helpful guidance document for the mobile crane industry,” Alice said.
David said the NHVR’s relationship with CICA had a positive impact on the process of developing the new code of practice.
“We are pleased to have worked closely with industry on the new Mobile Crane Industry Code of Practice, including in partnership with CICA, and obtaining input from industry through public forums and feedback on a draft Code of Practice,” he said.
The Code of Practice can be downloaded from the NHVR site, here.