Queensland safety authorities will soon begin a sweep of vehicle-mounted cranes.

A vehicle loading crane (VLC) is a crane mounted on a vehicle for the purpose of loading and unloading that vehicle.

VLCs pose significant risks to people and property when they are not operated in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

Several fatalities, serious injuries and extensive property damage have occurred when manually-operated stabilisers on vehicles fitted with a VLC have unintentionally extended during travel on public roads.

In August this year, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) and the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) will conduct an enforcement campaign to ensure VLC owners and operators are complying with relevant work health and safety and road safety requirements.

They will also find out if operators have implemented adequate controls to reduce the likelihood of unintentional extension of manually operated stabilisers and outriggers.

The campaign will include on-road inspections of VLCs and assessments of work systems.

Inspectors will take enforcement actions if they identify unmanaged risks relating to VLCs. This may include compliance notices and immediately prohibiting the use of the VLC until risk controls are implemented and verified.

WHSQ says owners and operators should conduct a self-assessment of their VLCs to ensure that stabiliser and outrigger risks are effectively controlled.

They have provided a self-assessment tool, and say inspectors may request a completed copy of the self-assessment during on-road activities as part of the campaign.