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Dogman Employment Windfall! A number of incidents have occurred in Queensland and other parts of Australia in which serious injuries have resulted where the crane operator has left the crane’s cabin to sling their own loads or to supervise a trainee dogger. Technical guidance notes on the Queensland Government web site www.dir.qld.gov.au advise that an employer must now not allow a person in charge of and/or operating a mobile crane (slewing/non-slewing) to also undertake their own dogging work or supervise a trainee dogger, even if the operator is also a licensed Dogger.
The technical guidance note was constructed to clarify whether or not a person who holds both a mobile crane (slewing/non-slewing) licence and a dogging licence can:
• Perform their own dogging work (i.e. Leaving the crane operator’s controls); or
• Supervise and/or direct a trainee dogger At the same time as operating the crane (Slewing/ non (slewing).
When does this requirement take effect?
As part of the implementation process employers will be given until 30 August 2009 to comply with the guidance note determination. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has determined, with the support of a national decision among occupational health and safety authorities that a mobile Crane operator is not in a position to:
• exercise judgement in relation to the Method of load slinging and take up of slings
• rectify any emerging situation involving a trainee, or
• make judgements on load security and slinging position and landing of the load while the crane is in operation or is mobile. The primary role of the crane operator is to perform the function of the crane operation in a safe manner.
A crane operator’s ability to perform this primary function is limited if he or she is required to leave the crane cabin to undertake/supervise dogging functions and slinging activities.
Australian standards:
The Australian Standard AS2550.1-2002 (Cranes, Hoists and Winches Safe Use and General Requirements) support the need for crane operators to be in full control of their crane at all times.
Following consultation with the Builders Labourers Federation and other stakeholders and in accordance with the Australian Standard, WHSQ has determined that a person in control of and/or operating a mobile crane (slewing/non-slewing) must not:
• leave the crane operator controls unless In an emergency or after :
• removed all loads and lifting slings from The hook or dedicated lifting device
For further information and practical advice on the slinging and directing of loads suspended from cranes, can be found in:
• A Guide for Doggers, Safety Information Handbook, and
• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2006.
These training guides can be purchased from WHSQ offices or downloaded by visiting www.worksafe.qld.gov.au. The Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2006 is Also available from SDS Publications on (07) 3119 6900 or www.sdspublications.
qld.gov.au.
Union coverage of doggers:
The BLF’s registered rules which set out which workers the BLF can legally cover, say this:
“3. CONSTITUTION
The union shall consist of an unlimited number of persons employed or usually employed as builders’ labourers throughout Queensland on or about any building .... and any labourer engaged
... as dogperson.”
Should you require any further information ring the union that turns up. 32362633 or Royce Kupsch 0411636414.
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