Builders Hoist Installation and Operation — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for erecting, extending, operating and dismantling rack-and-pinion personnel and materials hoists and materials-only hoists on multi-storey building sites.
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Builders' hoists, both personnel and materials hoists and materials-only hoists, are the main vertical transport on multi-storey sites. Erecting, extending (climbing) and dismantling a hoist is high-risk construction work (HRCW) because the riggers work on the mast and car roof more than 2 metres above the ground. Day-to-day operation also exposes workers to falls at landing gates if they are left open. A SWMS is required for both the erection work and the operation.
Licensing depends on the role. Operators need the matching high-risk work licence: the materials hoist (HM) licence for materials-only hoists, or the personnel and materials hoist (HP) licence for hoists that carry people. Erecting, altering and dismantling hoists is rigging work and requires a rigging licence at the class that covers hoist work. Hoists designed to lift people, with a platform movement of more than 2.4 metres, are registrable plant, and the item registration must be current. Check your state or territory regulator for licensing details and registration.
The hazards specific to hoists are falls from the mast, car roof or landing during erection; mast ties or mast sections failing if not installed to the engineer's design; overspeed or free fall of the car if the safety device fails; workers falling through landing gates that open when the car isn't there; people crushed between the car and the structure or base enclosure; and overloading from heavy pallets or wheelbarrows. Wind is a major factor on tall masts. Operation must stop at the manufacturer's wind limit.
The hoist must be installed, inspected and tested to the manufacturer's manual and the engineer's design, including the tie spacing to the building and the base slab. It needs a commissioning inspection before use, re-inspection after each mast extension, and periodic overspeed safety device (drop) tests at the interval the manufacturer sets.
Customise this template with the hoist make and model, whether it is personnel and materials or materials only, its rated load and passenger number, the mast height and tie layout from the engineer's design, the landing levels and gate type, the plant registration number, operators' and riggers' licence details, the wind limit, and the inspection and drop test schedule.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
Risk Assessment
1.Base preparation and delivery
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoist base settling or failing under load | Catastrophic | Build the base slab or support structure to the engineer's design for the hoist's base reactions. If the hoist sits on a suspended slab or podium, get written structural confirmation. Check the base is level within the manufacturer's tolerance before installing the first mast section. | Low | Builder / Hoist Supervisor |
| Mast sections and car dropped during unloading | High | Unload with a crane or vehicle loading crane using rated lifting gear and a licensed dogman. Barricade the delivery area. Store mast sections on dunnage, not stacked above the height in the manufacturer's guidance. | Low | Dogman / Hoist Supervisor |
2.Erecting the mast and installing ties
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigger falling from the car roof or mast during erection | Catastrophic | Erect from the car roof using its guardrails, and only use the car roof controls in erection mode. Riggers clip their harness to the mast or a rated anchor whenever they are outside the guardrail. Erection is carried out only by licensed riggers trained on this hoist model. | Moderate | Licensed Rigger |
| Mast instability from missing or incorrectly installed ties | Catastrophic | Install ties to the building at the spacings and with the anchors in the engineer's design, before the free-standing height limit is exceeded. Torque mast bolts to the manufacturer's specification. The hoist supervisor checks every tie and mast joint before the car runs above it. | Low | Licensed Rigger / Hoist Supervisor |
| Tools and bolts dropped from the mast | High | Tether tools. Keep bolts in closed containers. Barricade the area around the hoist base and below the work for the full erection. | Low | Licensed Rigger |
3.Installing landing gates and base enclosure
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worker falling down the hoist shaft through an open landing | Catastrophic | Install landing gates at every level that can only be opened when the car is at that landing, with electrical interlocks or mechanical locks as specified by the manufacturer. Keep edge protection in place on both sides of each landing. Fit a full base enclosure with an interlocked gate so no one can enter beneath the car. | Low | Licensed Rigger / Builder |
4.Commissioning, inspection and testing
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoist put into service with defective safety devices | Catastrophic | Before first use and after every mast extension, a competent person inspects and tests the hoist: limit switches, landing gate interlocks, overload device, communication system and the overspeed safety device (drop test at the manufacturer's interval, commonly every three months). Record results in the hoist logbook. Keep the registration and inspection certificate on site. | Low | Competent Person / Hoist Supervisor |
5.Daily operation
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car overloaded or carrying unsafe loads | High | Display the rated load and passenger numbers in the car. The licensed operator controls loading and refuses loads that exceed the rating, extend beyond the car, or are not secured. Chock trolleys and wheelbarrows. Never carry people on a materials-only hoist. | Low | Licensed Hoist Operator |
| Operating with faults or in high winds | High | Complete a daily pre-start check: gates, interlocks, limit switches, communication and the logbook. Monitor wind speed and stop operation at the manufacturer's wind limit, parking the car at the base. Report any defect and tag out the hoist until it is repaired. | Low | Licensed Hoist Operator |
| People crushed between the car and the structure at landings | High | Keep landing areas clear of materials and people while the car moves. No one may lean into the shaft or hold gates open. Use the communication system to confirm the landing is clear before moving. | Low | Licensed Hoist Operator / Site Supervisor |
6.Dismantling the hoist
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall or mast collapse during dismantling | Catastrophic | Dismantle in reverse order using the car roof in erection mode. Remove ties only as the mast is lowered past them. Never leave the mast above its free-standing height without ties. Licensed riggers stay clipped on and the base exclusion zone stays in place until the last section is lowered. | Moderate | Licensed Rigger / Hoist Supervisor |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.