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Code of practice for cranes

The Gazette Notice approving the Code of Practice for Cranes was signed by the Hon Minister of Labour on 20 November 2000 and the Code came into force on 19 December 2000.

Although the summary on Page 8 of the Code states that "Compliance with codes of practice is not mandatory" there are some mandatory requirements within this particular Code. It should also be noted that ALL cranes MUST comply with the Health & Safety in Employment (Pressure Equipment, Cranes & Passenger Ropeways Regulations 1999).

The Code of Practice for Cranes covers all types of cranes and for those in common use (Tower, Mobile, Truck Loader, Industrial (including the "Hamilton T Lift") and Gantry) there are separate Sections detailing what is required. In addition the duties of designers, design verifiers, manufacturers, suppliers & importers and equipment inspectors are also clearly spelt out.

There has been a "lead in" period of 2 years since the approval of the Code of Practice whereby persons owning or operating cranes in New Zealand had this period to meet their obligations. From 1 January 2003 any crane already in New Zealand or any being imported MUST be fully compliant with the requirements of the Code. This also applies to cranes that are being used for private use. Particular attention should be paid to the requirements of Appendix A.

Further to the above these matters do relate to obtaining the Certificate of Inspection for the crane.

Under the Pressure Equipment, Cranes & Passenger Ropeways Regulations a crane is defined as:

means a powered device:
1. That is equipped with mechanical means for raising or lowering loads suspended by means of a hook or other load handling device; and
2. That can, by the movement of the whole device or of its boom, jib trolley or other such part, reposition or move suspended loads both vertically and horizontally; and
Includes all parts of the crane down to and including the hook or load-handling device, and all ropes, wires, chains or other devices used to move the hook, or device; but
Does not include lifting tackle that is not an integral part of the crane

Attention is also drawn to the following:

Owners have a responsibility to have the relevant publications available
Operators have a responsibility to read and understand the operating manual
Owners have an obligation to maintain the crane and attachments in good working order and have the necessary inspections carried out as listed under the relevant section of the Code. Also they must rectify any faults found on the crane.
Operators MUST operate the crane safely, MUST NOT use unacceptable practices and report any faults found to the owner
Owners MUST ensure that the operator is adequately trained to operate the crane.

Crane Type	Radius or Angle Indicator	Boom Length Indication	Anti Two-Block Warning Device	Anti Two-Block cutout	Automatic SLI	Safe Load Indicator	Load Moment Indicator	Load Moment Limiter or cutout	Load Gauge or display
Mobile (Including Tractor & Industrial Cranes)
- Up to 3 tonne	M	M	R				R or	R or	R
- 3 tonne to 10 tonne	M	M	M		or	or	or	or
- 10 tonne and over	M	M	M		M

Tower	M			M				M

Gantry			Overhoist Limiter M
			Underhoist Limiter R

Truck Loader
- Under 5 metre tonne	M	M	R					M
- 5 to 15 metre tonne	M	M	R				M	M
- Over 15 metre tonne	M	M	R				M	M

Side boom Pipe layers		M

Other Cranes	R	R	R

Key:

- Where the crane has a hoist winch

- One of these safety features MUST be fitted

- For telescopic/straight boom cranes only

- One of these safety features SHOULD be fitted

M = Mandatory
R = Recommended

NOTE: Some manufacturers use a two-block damage prevention device in place of an anti-two-block warning device.

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