Lifting equipment failures are among the most severe safety events in mining and construction. Dropped loads, structural collapses, and rigging failures cause fatalities and serious injuries every year in Australian industry. The legislative framework that applies to lifting equipment in Australian mining is comprehensive, spanning state WHS regulations, mandatory design registration, and a suite of Australian standards covering design, operation, and inspection. This guide explains the key obligations and how to structure a compliant lifting equipment program.
The Legislative Framework
The Work Health and Safety Regulations in each jurisdiction contain specific requirements for plant, including lifting equipment. Under these regulations, lifting equipment above certain Safe Working Load (SWL) thresholds requires design registration before it is manufactured or imported. Design registration involves submission of the plant design to the relevant WHS regulator, who reviews it against applicable standards before issuing a registration number.
In Western Australian mining operations, the MSIR requirements overlay the general WHS framework and in some respects are more prescriptive. Mine managers must ensure that all lifting equipment used on the mine site is registered, inspected at the required intervals, and operated by competent persons.
AS 4991 — Lifting Devices
AS 4991 is the primary standard for the in-service inspection and maintenance of lifting devices in Australia. It covers cranes, hoists, chain blocks, lever hoists, and associated rigging hardware. The standard prescribes periodic inspection requirements, the qualifications of the person conducting the inspection, and the records that must be maintained.
Under AS 4991, lifting equipment must be inspected at intervals not exceeding 12 months by a competent person, with the inspection interval reduced where operating conditions are more severe — high frequency of use, exposure to corrosive environments, or operation at elevated temperatures. The standard requires that the inspection cover the mechanical and structural integrity of the lifting device, all load-bearing components including hooks, chains, wire rope, and sheaves, safety devices and interlocks, and controls and brakes.
The inspection report must record the condition of all inspected components, any defects found, and the inspector's recommendation regarding the continued serviceability of the equipment. Where defects are found that affect safety, the equipment must be taken out of service immediately.
AS 1418 — Cranes, Hoists and Winches
The AS 1418 series covers the design and manufacture of cranes, hoists, and winches. Part 1 (General requirements), Part 2 (Serial hoist and trolley type hoists), and Part 5 (Mobile and vehicle loader cranes) are most relevant to mining operations. For cranes in operation, AS 2550 provides the operational requirements.
AS 1418.9 covers the specific inspection and maintenance requirements for cranes. It prescribes pre-operational, routine, periodic, and major inspections, with the scope and frequency of each type of inspection defined by the crane type, duty classification, and operating environment. Duty classification (M1 through M8) reflects the number of load cycles and the proportion of time the crane operates at various load fractions.
Rigging and Below-the-Hook Components
The rigging equipment used with cranes and hoists — slings (chain, wire rope, synthetic webbing, round), shackles, hooks, swivels, and spreader beams — is subject to its own inspection and replacement requirements. Wire rope slings must be retired when they reach defined discard criteria (broken wires, kinks, corrosion, crushing). Chain slings must be inspected for stretch, cracks, and deformation. Synthetic slings are vulnerable to UV degradation, chemical attack, and cuts that may not be visible on the outer cover.
Below-the-hook lifting devices — custom spreader beams, jigs, and attachments — are also subject to design registration where they exceed the relevant SWL threshold and must be inspected periodically. The temptation to fabricate below-the-hook devices in-house without formal design, calculation, and inspection must be resisted.
Dogger and Rigger Competency
In most Australian states, dogging and rigging work requires a high-risk work licence. A Dogging (DG) licence is required to select and apply lifting gear and direct crane movement. A Basic Rigging (RB) licence covers more complex rigging tasks including crane shifting and tilting. Advanced Rigging (RA) covers the use of gin wheels, flying foxes, and multi-crane lifts.
Mine site crane operators must hold an appropriate High Risk Work Licence for the crane type (C1 through C6 for different crane categories). Maintaining records of operator licences and inspecting their currency is part of the mine operator's duty of care.
Evidence base for procurement
Public sources · reviewed 19 Sep 2026These regulator and standards sources provide the public basis for the inspection context on this page. They describe requirements and application context; they do not claim that Mining Inspection Australia holds a qualification, accreditation or project history.
Standards Australia Store
General requirements for cranes, hoists, winches and their components. Confirm the applicable part for the equipment and current project scope.
Standards Australia Store
Requirements for lifting devices connected to a crane hook, including spreader beams, magnet lifters, vacuum lifters and friction lifters.
Standards Australia Store
Safe-use practices for mobile elevating work platforms, including management, planning, selection, operation and maintenance.
Safe Work Australia
The model framework for plant duties, inspection, maintenance and records; check the adopted law in the relevant jurisdiction.
Frequently asked questions
How often must lifting equipment be inspected in Australian mining?
AS 4991 requires inspection at intervals not exceeding 12 months. However, the inspection interval should be shorter for equipment under heavy use, in corrosive environments, or where operational conditions are more demanding than normal. The inspection interval is a maximum, not a target.
Who can inspect lifting equipment on a mine site?
The inspection must be conducted by a competent person — someone with the knowledge, skills, and experience to identify defects in lifting equipment and assess their significance. For crane structures, this typically means an engineer or experienced inspector with specific lifting equipment competency. Rigging hardware inspection is within the competency of an experienced rigger with documented inspection training.
What records must be kept for lifting equipment?
Records required include: the design registration number; a written description of the equipment; the Safe Working Load; the date of each inspection; the name and qualification of the inspector; a description of any defects found; action taken; and the next inspection due date. Records should be kept for the life of the equipment.
Does wire rope need to be replaced on a schedule or only when defects are found?
Both apply. Wire rope must be retired when it reaches defined discard criteria under AS 3569 (wire rope) and the crane manufacturer's requirements. It should also be retired at defined operating hour or cycle intervals regardless of apparent condition, since fatigue accumulation is not always visible. The manufacturer's recommendation and the standard's discard criteria both apply.