From 1 July 2026, SafeWork NSW’s approved Codes of Practice are minimum performance standards under section 26A of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), so crane-related PCBUs must either comply with the relevant Codes or demonstrate an equivalent or higher standard of risk management.

The relevant codes can be found in the Code Library here, and need to align with the crane (and other plant) type as well as the context of the work being done (i.e. are there overhead powerlines, is the work being done on a construction site, congested urban space, wind farm?).

Why it matters for crane operations

Legal effect: Codes of Practice are no longer just “guidance”,  they are now enforceable minimum standards. Non‑compliance without an equivalent/higher control approach can amount to a breach of the WHS Act.

Crane‑specific Codes exist: SafeWork NSW maintains crane‑related Codes, including Tower Cranes (July 2025) and broader plant/construction Codes that cover mobile cranes, lifting, and work near powerlines.

“Comply or justify”: You can use a different method, but you must be able to show it achieves an equal or higher level of safety as the Code (e.g., via a documented risk assessment, engineering controls, procedures, and verification).

Which SafeWork NSW Codes are most relevant to cranes?

Depending on your operations, the following are typically in scope:

Tower Cranes (2025) – erection, use, maintenance, exclusion zones, communication, high/low lifts, licensing.

Managing the risks of plant in the workplace – general plant risk management, including cranes as “plant”, and person‑lifting in workboxes with references to AS 1418.1:2021 Cranes, hoists and winches, Part 1: General requirements
and AS 2550.10:2025 Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use, Part 10: Mobile elevating work platforms

Moving plant on construction sites

Work near overhead and underground electric lines – critical for mobile and tower cranes operating near energised assets.

Construction Work and How to manage work health and safety risks – overarching duties, consultation, and risk management processes that underpin lift planning and site controls.

Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must protect workers from the risk of falling from one level to another – no matter the height. PCBUs and others face on-the-spot fines for not protecting workers against the risk of falls.

Practical implications for your lift planning and compliance

Lift plans and SWMS: Ensure they explicitly reference the applicable Code(s) and show how each control meets or exceeds the Code’s requirements (e.g., exclusion zones, dogger/signaller arrangements, wind limits, powerline setbacks).

Licensing and competence: Confirm HRW licences for crane classes, and that procedures reflect Code mandates (e.g., restrictions on using mobile phones to direct tower crane operations).

Alternative controls: If you deviate from a Code (e.g., different exclusion zone methodology), document the rationale, risk assessment, and evidence that the alternative is equivalent or higher.

Audit readiness: Regulators can test your compliance against the Code text. Keep records of training, inspections, lift studies, and communications that map to Code clauses.

Relevant terms used in the Codes of Practice

‘Must’ – represents a requirement that is typically a duty by law that PCBUs must comply with.

‘Should’ – is used to identify the standard required by a Code. PCBUs can only manage the identified hazard or risk in a different way if doing so provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the standard required by a Code.

‘May’ – indicates an optional course of action, or something that may also be done.

Penalties under the NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 are severe and tiered by offence category; for crane operations, breaches can attract fines in the hundreds of thousands to many millions of dollars for companies, and personal fines plus imprisonment for individuals (including directors and senior managers).

For clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact SafeWork NSW and CICA is also here to help you understand your obligations.