Road managers
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This consultation closed on Wednesday 15 May 2024. The NHVR would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback.
Background
Mobile cranes play an essential role in infrastructure and construction projects throughout Australia. The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) worked together to develop the Mobile Crane Industry Code of Practice, based on input from a wide range of industry participants through public forums.
The Mobile Crane Industry Code of Practice is a practical guide that assists parties in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) for mobile cranes to comply with their primary duty and other obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). It does this by identifying hazards and risks associated with the use of mobile cranes on a road and proposes controls that can be implemented to eliminate or minimise risk.
Under the HVNL, it is not obligatory for a CoR party to implement the controls recommended in a registered code. So long as they are doing what is reasonably practicable to ensure safety, it doesn’t matter how they do it. However, if a party ignores hazards and risks that are identified in a registered code, or fails to implement sufficient controls, then a court can refer to a registered code as evidence of what the party is expected to know.
The code isn’t just for crane companies. CoR parties in this industry include construction companies, builders, civil contractors, and other businesses involved in infrastructure development. This includes suppliers to these businesses who rely on mobile cranes for loading and unloading materials and equipment.
Why we consulted
Feedback direct from industry ensures that the code of practice is comprehensive, up to date, and useful to its target audience.
Outcome
The Mobile Crane Industry Code of Practice was endorsed by the NHVR for registration on 12 August 2024 and became a Registered Industry Code of Practice.