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Approved Code of Practice for Cranes

Appendix G: Personal protective equipment

The equipment quoted here also covers other work sites as applicable.

G1 Fall-arrest equipment

As set out in the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, the hierarchy to be used in dealing with hazards is elimination, isolation and then minimisation. The first consideration when working at height is to eliminate the risk of a fall. If this is not practicable, the next consideration is to isolate the risk or, as a last resort, where these first two options aren’t practicable, to use fall-arrest equipment.

  1. Fall-arrest equipment systems, in accordance with AS/NZS 1891 parts 1–4: 1995 shall be installed and used at all times on tower cranes where the possibility of a fall exists for any personnel (includes, but not limited to, erection, operation, service and instructional personnel), except on the following areas:
    1. Where sloping ladders are provided, that are either mounted within the tower section or are enclosed by hoops and backstays, provided that the uninterrupted length of any one ladder section does not exceed 13 metres. Vertical ladders, sloping ladders outside of the tower, and sloping ladders not protected by backstays and hoops are NOT exempted from this requirement.
    2. On platforms provided with all round handrails/chains, or other such protection, on such areas as counter jibs, machinery decks, slew platforms, towerheads, A-frames and jibs. This exemption does NOT apply on moving trolley or boom head platforms, or where, in the opinion of the crane supervisor, there is a perceived danger of a person falling through the handrails whilst working in an extraordinary or non-standing position.
  2. Installations of fall-arrest equipment systems on cranes (e.g. fixed safety lines along jibs and up ladders) need to be designed and installed in accordance with AS/NZS 1891 parts 1–4: 1995 and must include all necessary supports to achieve minimum deflection and shock absorption systems and anchorages, and consist of materials capable of maintaining their integrity over the life of the crane installation.

Staff must be trained to the appropriate unit standard for the particular task in hand, and there must be a minimum of two working personnel, fully trained in rescue recovery techniques, plus rescue recovery equipment available on site at all times fall-arrest equipment is being used.

Note: All platforms, ladders and accessways on a crane shall be kept clear, clean and free of obstructions, oil and grease.

G2 Footwear

  1. Footwear in accordance with AS/NZS 2210 shall be worn at all times on tower and other cranes.

G3 Hard hats

  1. Hard hats in accordance with AS/NZS 1801:1997 or ANSI Z89.1:1977; or EN 397, shall be worn at all times, on all construction sites where a hazard from falling objects occurs, or in accordance with the site safety plan, and as follows:
    1. Chin straps must be fitted to hard hats worn on tower cranes.
    2. Hard hats may be exempted from use whilst on a tower crane only where other approved provisions of head protection are provided (e.g. in the driver’s cab) AND where no perceivable hazard from falling objects exists AND where wearing a hard hat is considered by the crane supervisor as being more hazardous than not wearing one.

Note: All personnel are alerted that perceptions of hazards may change and should be regularly reviewed.

G4 Hand, eye and ear protection

  1. Hand, eye and ear protection shall be used, in accordance with usual work practices, when working on tower cranes.

G5 Personnel clearance zones

  1. For all operations involving tower cranes clear zones under and around the work area, should be planned and executed in accordance with the site safety plan. Any work on or around a public roadway must be in accordance with an approved traffic management safety plan.

G6 High-visibility clothing

  1. High-visibility clothing, in accordance with the site safety plan and/or the traffic management safety plan, shall be worn when working with tower cranes.

G7 Machinery safety

  1. Machinery guards and other protective devices, such as lockouts, shall be used in accordance with normal work practices involving moving machinery. Overalls and other clothing shall be snug fitting, and long hair shall be tied back.

Note: Particular caution must be applied around moving machinery when using protective equipment such as fall-arrest harnesses with dangling lanyards or tooling.

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