Maintain lifting equipment to keep workers safe

Recent compliance activities undertaken by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland identified that some businesses do not fully understand their inspection and maintenance obligations for lifting equipment, including elevating work platforms.

Businesses must ensure lifting equipment is safe, properly maintained and inspected in accordance with:

• manufacturer instructions
• relevant standards
• legislative requirements.

The compliance activity highlighted the need for greater awareness of 10-year critical component inspections, which are required for certain types of plant and equipment. These inspections are an important safety measure, helping identify wear, damage and hidden faults that may not be detected during routine operation or maintenance.

Failure to identify deterioration or defects can increase the risk of equipment failure, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Regular inspections, maintenance and record keeping are critical to ensuring equipment remains safe and fit for purpose. Operators should also conduct pre-operational checks and remove defective equipment from service until repairs are completed.

Businesses should review their inspection and maintenance programs to ensure required safety checks are completed, inspection records are current, and workers understand how to identify and report defects.

More information

Maintenance, inspection and repair of elevating working platforms (EWPs)