A work box is a personnel carrying device, designed to be suspended from a crane to provide a working area for a worker elevated by and working from the device.

Crane lifted work boxes do not provide a level of safety equivalent to properly erected scaffolding, elevating work platforms and other specifically designed access systems.

However, using a crane lifted work box does provide a higher level of safety than using fall arrest systems as the primary control measure.

Hazards

Work box operations may present a risk of injury to workers and other people from:

  • Falling objects: being struck by the load or falling objects from the work box (e.g. materials, components) due to plant or equipment failure or operator error.
  • Collision risks: collision with other plant and structures such as buildings, scaffolds and powerlines.
  • Crush risks: being struck or crushed by the box.
  • Risk of falls: operators falling while accessing the work box or performing maintenance.
  • Psychosocial hazards: for example, high job demands, isolated work, or fatigue can lead to physical and psychological injuries.

Safety requirements

According to WHS Regulation 219 (3) – Plant that lifts or suspends loads,

  • If it is not reasonably practicable to use plant that is specifically designed to lift or suspend the load, the person must ensure that if the plant is lifting or suspending persons, the use of the plant complies with WHS Regulation 220.

According to WHS Regulation 220 – Plant not specifically designed to lift or suspend a person,

  1. The person with management or control of the plant at a workplace must ensure that:
    1. the persons are lifted or suspended in a work box that is securely attached to the plant; and
    2. the persons in the work box remain substantially within the work box while they are being lifted or suspended; and
    3. if there is a risk of a person falling from a height, a safety harness is provided and worn by the person in order to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, injury to the person as a result of the fall; and
    4. means are provided by which the persons being lifted or suspended can safely exit from the plant in the event of a failure in its normal operation.
  2. This regulation does not apply to plant used in connection with:
    1. the performance of stunt work; or
    2. the performance of acrobatics; or
    3. theatrical performances.

Key safety requirements

  • Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS): working with work boxes in construction requires a site-specific High Risk Construction Work Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) being implemented before work commences. See SWMS for high risk construction work | SafeWork SA.
  • Training: ensure operators are trained on emergency procedures and are licenced and follow SOPs and SWMSs.
  • Working with loads: never exceed the Working Load Limit.
  • Exclusion zones: ensure they are in in place.
  • Communication: have an agreed system of communication with support personnel who have line of sight of the operator. Directions to the crane operator should only be provided from the work box by a person holding a dogging or rigging licence.
  • Operation: avoid lifting over people.
  • Wind: monitor wind speeds and their effect on the work box.
  • Attachment: the work box must be securely attached to the crane.
  • Harness: full body fall-arrest harnesses should be worn at all times. Workers need to remain substantially inside the work box while it is lifted or suspended.
  • Anchor points: harnesses should be attached to fall-arrest anchorage points in the work box or to the main sling ring above the heads of the workers.
  • Movement: the crane must not travel while suspending a work box.
  • Emergency: retrieval arrangements are put in place before the lift so workers can safely exit the work box in the event of work box failure.

Licence requirements

A high risk work licence is required to operate the crane that lifts the work box.

Registration

Work boxes designed to be suspended from cranes require design registration but not plant item registration.

Registration costs can be found at Registration Fees.

Design registration

Plant design registration – Guidance notes

To register or alter the design of plant:

Plant design - New or alteration to design

The work box can be designed to any internationally recognised published technical standard with the following documents being required for the registration of the plant design:

  • each model must have a separate design registration application form.
  • statement signed by the designer of the plant stating:
  • the designer has complied with their obligations under section 22 of the WHS Act.
  • the published technical standards and engineering principles used in the design.
  • design calculations and drawing(s) in English, as referenced in the designer's statement
  • an independent design verification statement.
  • payment of the fee which lasts for the life of the design (payable on completion of the online application).

Note:

  • design registration applies to all plant items manufactured to the same design.
  • design registration is valid for the life of the plant.
  • manufacturers, importers, and suppliers of plant are prohibited from supplying plant unless the design of that plant is registered.
  • design registration in SA is not required if the plant design is registered in another state under a corresponding WHS law (WHS Act 2012 (SA)).
  • any alteration to the design of registered plant that may affect health, and safety requires an alteration to its design registration.

Change of details

You must provide us with written notice within 14 days if:

  • you change your name or address, or any other information stated on your application for registration.
  • the plant design has been altered to an extent where it is subject to new control measures.

Inspection and maintenance

A preventative maintenance program must be in place, taking into account the working environment, frequency and severity of use of the plant. It needs to be carried out according to the manufacturer’s specifications and AS 2550.1 with inspections carried out by a competent person such as:

  1. Pre-operational inspection: before the beginning of each work shift or change of operator.
  2. Routine inspection: conducted at intervals of 3 months.
  3. Periodic inspection: conducted at intervals of 12 months.
  4. Major inspection: conducted by the end of the 10th year in-service.

For further information: Safe Work Australia Guide to inspecting and maintaining cranes.

Record keeping

A record (e.g. logbook) of the service and maintenance history of the plant needs to be kept and made readily available and be written in easy to understand English.

Refer to AS 2550.1 and WHS Regulation 237.

Contact us

Visit: safework.sa.gov.au

Call: SafeWork Licensing Unit on 1300 365 255

Email: licensing.safework@sa.gov.au

Further information

SafeWork SA

Resources

Legislation

  • WHS Act 22 - Duties of PCBUs that design plant, substances or structures
  • WHS Regulation 213 – Maintenance and inspection of plant
  • WHS Regulation 219 (3) – Plant that lifts or suspends loads
  • WHS Regulation 220 – Plant not specifically designed to lift or suspend a person
  • WHS Regulation 237 - Records of plant
  • WHS Regulation 244 – Altered plant designs to be registered

Australian Standards

Codes of Practice

  • Managing psychosocial hazards at work
  • Managing the risk of falls at workplaces
  • How to manage work health and safety risks
  • Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work
  • Managing the risks of plant in the workplace
  • Construction Work – Model Code of Practice – SafeWork Australia – reference only as it is not approved in South Australia.
  • Working in the vicinity of overhead and underground electric lines - SafeWork Australia - reference only as it is not approved in South Australia.

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