WorkSafe Western Australia (WA) has now fully enforced compliance requirements for using earthmoving machinery, as a crane, placing new obligations on operators and employers across WA’s construction, civil, and mining industries.
If lifting loads with earthmoving machinery occurs on your site, these requirements are no longer guidance; they are now enforceable standards. Operators must hold appropriate licences or accredited units to legally perform lifting work using earthmoving machinery.
These changes clarify long-standing grey areas and reinforce that lifting with earthmoving machinery is classified as high-risk work under WA safety legislation.
Why WorkSafe WA regulates Earthmoving Machinery Lifting
Earthmoving machinery is frequently used to lift loads on worksites due to its availability and versatility. However, earthmoving machinery is not primarily designed for crane-style lifting, and misuse has led to serious incidents across Western Australia.
WorkSafe WA investigations have identified common risk factors, including:
Operators using earthmoving machinery without lifting-specific training
Incorrect interpretation of load charts
Unsafe slinging and dogging methods
Inadequate communication during lifts
Poorly managed exclusion zones
To reduce fatalities and serious injuries, WorkSafe WA now requires formal licensing for lifting tasks performed with earthmoving machinery.
WorkSafe WA Earthmoving Machinery Lifting Requirements
HRWL requirements for using earthmoving machinery as a crane (over 3 tonnes):
Any earthmoving machinery with a rated capacity of 3 tonnes or more, when used for lifting, must meet one of the following requirements:
Be operated by a worker holding the appropriate Crane High Risk Work Licence (HRWL), or
Have lifting activities limited to safe lifting with excavators, carried out in conjunction with a worker holding a Dogging HRWL, in accordance with relevant legislation and guidance.
Operators using earthmoving machinery as a crane must now hold one of the following:
TLILIC0022 – Licence to Operate a Slewing Mobile Crane
or
SLELIC301 – Conduct Safe Lifting with Excavators
plus
CPCCLDG3001 – Licence to Perform Dogging
These qualifications ensure workers understand how to safely plan, execute, and control lifting operations involving earthmoving machinery.
Who Must Comply in Western Australia
These requirements apply to:
Earthmoving machinery operators
Civil construction workers
Mining and infrastructure contractors
Site supervisors and leading hands
Employers who are responsible for plant operations
If earthmoving machinery is used to lift loads, even occasionally, compliance is mandatory.
WorkSafe WA Enforcement and Compliance Actions
WorkSafe WA inspectors are actively enforcing these requirements and may request evidence of:
Earthmoving machinery lifting licences
Operator competency records
Risk assessments and safe work method statement (SWMS)
Compliance with approved lifting methods
Non-compliance may result in improvement notices, prohibition notices, stop-work orders, or penalties.
WorkSafe WA's earthmoving machinery compliance requirements are now fully in effect. If lifting occurs on your site, ensuring operators are properly licensed is essential to protecting workers and maintaining compliance.
About Civil Safety
Civil Safety is a leading Registered Training Organisation (RTO 32381) for the mining, civil and construction industries, with operations across Queensland and Western Australia.
We provide safety and operational training to thousands of people every year from a diverse range of backgrounds. Our highly experienced trainers bring real-world experience to the classroom, ensuring our students graduate ready for work with the skills, confidence and qualifications required for safe and compliant operation in dangerous environments.
With a vast range of courses, plus a variety of learning methods including face-to-face, blended and online, we can help you gain the skills you need to enter a new industry or upskill in your current career.
Find out more information on the range of courses we offer, or give us a call on 1300 CIVIL S.