WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH

(OPERATION OF CRANES)
REGULATIONS 2011

S.L. 105 of 2011

Presented to Parliament pursuant to Statute.

Ordered by Parliament to lie upon the Table:

21st September 2011

 (Vide Notification No. S 515 in the Gazette Subsidiary
Legislation Supplement No. 37 of 9th September 2011).

WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT

(CHAPTER 354A)

WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH

(OPERATION OF CRANES)
REGULATIONS 2011

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

PART I
PRELIMINARY

Regulation
1. Citation and commencement
2. Definitions
3. Application

PART II
GENERAL PROVISIONS
4. Lifting plan
5. Only registered crane operator to operate a mobile crane and tower crane

PART III
REGISTRATION OF CRANE OPERATORS
6. Application for registration to be crane operator
7. Requirements for registration as crane operator
8. Certificate of registration
9. Register of crane operators
10. Production of certificate of registration upon request
11. Renewal of registration
12. Conditions for renewal of registration as crane operator
13. Suspension and cancellation of registration
14. Notice of suspension and cancellation of registration
15. Surrender of certificate
16. Duties of crane operator
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PART IV
APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF PERSONNEL

Regulation
17. Appointment and duties of lifting supervisor
18. Appointment and duties of rigger
19. Appointment and duties of signalman

PART V
INSTALLATION, REPAIR, ALTERATION, TESTING
AND DISMANTLING OF MOBILE CRANE
OR TOWER CRANE
20. Only approved crane contractor to install, repair, alter or dismantle mobile
crane or tower crane
21. Application for approval to be approved crane contractor
22. Certificate of approval
23. Production of certificate of approval upon request
24. Suspension or cancellation of certificate
25. Notice of suspension or cancellation of certificate
26. Duties of approved crane contractor
27. Duties of owner of mobile crane and tower crane

PART VI
MISCELLANEOUS
28. Offence
29. Revocation
30. Savings and transitional provision
The Schedules
 3
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 65 of the Workplace
Safety and Health Act, the Minister for Manpower hereby makes
the following Regulations:
PART I
PRELIMINARY

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Workplace Safety
and Health (Operation of Cranes) Regulations 2011 and shall, with
the exception of regulation 5(4) and (5), come into operation on
10th September 2011.
(2) Regulation 5(4) and (5) shall come into operation on
1st September 2013.

Definitions
2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —
‘‘approved crane contractor’’ means any firm or company which
is the holder of a valid certificate of approval issued by the
Commissioner under regulation 22;
‘‘crane’’ means a machine incorporating an elevated structural
member or jib beneath which suspended loads may be moved
vertically (whether upwards or downwards) or horizontally or
both, either by slewing the machine or derricking the jib, or
by any other means not solely involving a travelling motion of
the crane;
‘‘lorry loader’’ means a lorry incorporating an articulator arm
mounted on the lorry which is used for loading, unloading
and lifting of materials or goods;
‘‘mobile crane’’ means a crane mounted on a truck, crawler or on
wheels and includes any crane of a type shown in the First
Schedule;
‘‘registered crane operator’’ means any person who is the holder of
a valid certificate of registration issued by the Commissioner
under regulation 6;
 4
‘‘responsible person’’, in relation to a workplace where a crane is,
or is to be, operated by a person means —
(a) the employer of the person; or
(b) the principal under whose direction the person operates
the crane;
‘‘tower crane’’ means a crane which has a vertical or near vertical
tower designed to be free standing up to a height specified by
the Commissioner and includes any crane of a type shown in
the Second Schedule.

Application
3. These Regulations shall apply to any workplace in which a crane
is in use.

PART II
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Lifting plan
4.—(1) Where any lifting operation involving the use of any crane is
carried out in a workplace by a crane operator, it shall be the duty of
the responsible person to establish and implement a lifting plan which
shall be in accordance with the generally accepted principles of safe and
sound practice.
(2) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the
lifting plan referred to in paragraph (1) is made available for inspection
upon request by an inspector.

Only registered crane operator to operate a mobile crane and tower

crane
5.—(1) No person shall operate a mobile crane (not being a lorry
loader) or tower crane in a workplace unless he is a registered crane
operator.
(2) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that no
person, other than a registered crane operator, is employed, permitted
or made to operate a mobile crane (not being a lorry loader) or tower
crane in a workplace.
 5
(3) A person, whether or not he is also a registered crane operator,
may drive a mobile crane in a workplace if he is the holder of a driving
licence issued under the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276) authorising him to
drive a mobile crane of a class or description permitted by the licence,
but he shall not operate the mobile crane unless he also satisfies the
requirement referred to in paragraph (1).
(4) No person shall operate a lorry loader unless —
(a) he has successfully completed a training course, acceptable
to the Commissioner, on the operation of a lorry loader;
(b) if required by the Commissioner, he attends re-training on
the operation of a lorry loader and successfully completes
such re-training; and
(c) if required by the Commissioner, he produces a current
medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner
certifying that he is medically fit to operate a lorry loader.
(5) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that no
person is allowed to operate a lorry loader unless the person satisfies
the requirements referred to in paragraph (4).

PART III
REGISTRATION OF CRANE OPERATORS

Application for registration to be crane operator

6.—(1) A person may apply to the Commissioner for his approval
to register as a crane operator.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) shall be —
(a) in such form and manner as the Commissioner may
determine; and
(b) accompanied by the appropriate fee specified in the Third
Schedule and such fee shall not be refundable.
(3) Upon receiving an application under paragraph (1), the
Commissioner may, subject to regulation 7 —
(a) issue the person with a certificate of registration to act as a
crane operator subject to such conditions as the Commissioner
may think fit to impose; or
(b) refuse to approve the application.
 6
Requirements for registration as crane operator
7.—(1) A person may register as a crane operator if he satisfies
the Commissioner that —
(a) he has successfully completed a training course acceptable to
the Commissioner on the operation of a mobile crane or tower
crane;
(b) he has, in the opinion of the Commissioner, sufficient
experience in operating a mobile crane or tower crane and has
passed a proficiency test acceptable to the Commissioner; or
(c) he possesses any other equivalent qualification acceptable to
the Commissioner.
(2) The Commissioner may require an applicant to produce a
current medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner which
certifies that the applicant is medically fit to operate a mobile crane or
tower crane.
(3) The Commissioner shall not register an applicant who has been
certified by a registered medical practitioner to be unfit to operate
a mobile crane or tower crane.

Certificate of registration
8.—(1) A certificate of registration to act as a crane operator shall,
unless the registration is earlier cancelled, be valid for a period of
2 years from the date of registration or for such shorter period as
the Commissioner may specify in the certificate of registration.
(2) A certificate of registration shall not be transferable.
(3) Where a certificate of registration is lost, destroyed or defaced,
the holder of the certificate may apply to the Commissioner for
a replacement certificate on payment of the appropriate fee specified
in the Third Schedule.
(4) An application under paragraph (3) to the Commissioner shall
be supported by such documentary proof that the certificate of
registration issued earlier is lost, destroyed or defaced.

Register of crane operators

9. The Commissioner shall keep an up-to-date register of all persons
registered as crane operators.
 7
Production of certificate of registration upon request
10.—(1) It shall be the duty of a registered crane operator to
produce his certificate of registration for inspection upon request by
an inspector.
(2) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of
an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
$1,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine
not exceeding $2,000.

Renewal of registration
11.—(1) An application by a person for the renewal of his certificate
of registration to act as a crane operator shall be made in such form and
manner as the Commissioner may determine, and shall be accompanied
by the appropriate fee specified in the Third Schedule.
(2) Any renewal fee paid under paragraph (1) shall not be
refundable.
(3) Upon receiving an application for the renewal of registration
under paragraph (1), the Commissioner may —
(a) renew the certificate of registration to act as a crane operator
for a period of 2 years or for such shorter period as the
Commissioner may specify in the certificate of registration; or
(b) refuse the application for renewal if the Commissioner is
satisfied that the applicant is no longer a fit and proper
person to be registered as a crane operator.

Conditions for renewal of registration as crane operator

12.—(1) The Commissioner may impose such conditions for the
renewal of registration as a crane operator as he thinks fit.
(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) may include any
one or all of the following:
(a) requiring an applicant to attend a refresher course acceptable
to the Commissioner on the operation of a mobile crane or
a tower crane;
(b) requiring an applicant to pass a proficiency test acceptable to
the Commissioner for crane operation;
 8
(c) requiring an applicant to produce a current medical certificate
from a registered medical practitioner which certifies that the
applicant is medically fit to operate a mobile crane or tower
crane.

Suspension and cancellation of registration

13.—(1) The Commissioner may suspend or cancel the registration
of any registered crane operator if the Commissioner is satisfied that
the registered crane operator —
(a) has obtained his registration under these Regulations by
means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of
any material fact;
(b) has been certified by a registered medical practitioner to be
unfit to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane; or
(c) has failed to comply with any of the duties set out in these
Regulations.
(2) It shall be the duty of a registered crane operator upon becoming
aware of any medical condition which may render him unfit to operate
a mobile crane or a tower crane to inform the Commissioner of such
medical condition without undue delay.
(3) Any person who contravenes paragraph (2) shall be guilty of
an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
$1,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine
not exceeding $2,000.

Notice of suspension and cancellation of registration

14.—(1) When the Commissioner has suspended or cancelled the
registration of a registered crane operator under regulation 13, the
Commissioner shall inform the registered crane operator concerned
by notice in writing of such suspension or cancellation.
(2) The suspension or cancellation shall take effect 21 days after
the date of the service of the notice on the registered crane operator
or, if an appeal against the suspension or cancellation of registration
has been made to the Minister under paragraph (4), on the date the
Minister dismisses the appeal.
(3) Notwithstanding that the suspension or cancellation has not
taken effect, any registered crane operator whose registration is
suspended or cancelled by the Commissioner shall not, between the
 9
date of the service of the notice of suspension or cancellation and the
date the suspension or cancellation takes effect (both dates inclusive),
operate a mobile crane (not being a lorry loader) or a tower crane.
(4) A registered crane operator whose registration has been
suspended or cancelled by the Commissioner under regulation 13 may,
within 21 days of the date of the service of the notice of suspension
or cancellation, appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(5) The notice of suspension or cancellation may be served on
any person by delivering it to him, or by leaving it at, or sending it
by registered post to, his last known residential address.

Surrender of certificate
15.—(1) A registered crane operator shall immediately surrender to
the Commissioner his certificate of registration when the suspension or
cancellation takes effect in accordance with regulation 14(2).
(2) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of
an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
$5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or
to both.

Duties of crane operator

16. It shall be the duty of a crane operator —
(a) before the start of every workshift, to carry out operational
tests on all limiting and indicating devices under no load
conditions before any lifting operation is carried out and
shall enter the results of such tests in a log book or log-sheet;
(b) to ascertain whether the ground conditions, in particular the
ground surface on which a mobile crane is to be operated,
are safe for travel or any lifting operation; and if he is of the
opinion that it is not safe for travel or any lifting operation,
he shall report this to the lifting supervisor;
(c) to ensure that any outrigger when it is required is fully
extended and secured;
(d) not to carry out any lifting operation unless he has been
briefed by the lifting supervisor on the lifting plan referred to
in regulation 4;
(e) not to hoist any object if he is unable to ascertain the weight
of the load;
 10
(f) not to hoist any load unless he has received a clear signal
from a signalman when this is required under regulation 19;
(g) not to engage in any act or manoeuvre which is not in
accordance with safe and sound practice;
(h) not to hoist any load if there is any obstruction in the path of
manoeuvre and if there is any such obstruction, he shall
report this immediately to the lifting supervisor;
(i) not to manoeuvre or hold any suspended load over any
public road or public area unless that road or area has been
cordoned off;
(j) not to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane within 3 metres
of any live overhead power line;
(k) not to use the crane for any operation for which it is not
intended, including pulling or dragging a load;
(l) to ensure that any stationary truck mounted or wheel mounted
crane is adequately and securely blocked while it is on a slope;
and
(m) to report any failure or malfunction of the crane to the lifting
supervisor and to make an appropriate entry of the failure
or malfunction in the log book or log-sheet of the crane.

PART IV
APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF PERSONNEL

Appointment and duties of lifting supervisor

17.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to appoint
a lifting supervisor before any lifting operation involving the use of
any crane is carried out in a workplace.
(2) It shall be the duty of the responsible person not to appoint any
person as a lifting supervisor for any lifting operation involving the
use of a crane in a workplace unless the person is one who —
(a) has successfully completed a training course acceptable to
the Commissioner to equip him to become a lifting supervisor;
and
(b) has, in the opinion of the responsible person, such relevant
experience in lifting operations for a period of not less than
one year before the appointment as a lifting supervisor.
 11
(3) It shall be the duty of the lifting supervisor appointed under
paragraph (1) —
(a) to co-ordinate all lifting activities;
(b) to supervise all lifting operation by a mobile crane or tower
crane in accordance with the lifting plan referred to in
regulation 4;
(c) to ensure that only registered crane operators, appointed
riggers and appointed signalmen participate in any lifting
operation involving the use of a mobile crane or a tower crane;
(d) to ensure that the ground conditions are safe for any lifting
operation to be performed by any mobile crane;
(e) to brief all crane operators, riggers and signalmen on the lifting
plan referred to in regulation 4; and
(f) if any unsatisfactory or unsafe conditions are reported to him
by any crane operator or rigger, take such measures to rectify
the unsatisfactory or unsafe condition or otherwise ensure that
any lifting operation is carried out safely.

Appointment and duties of rigger

18.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to appoint
a rigger before any lifting operation involving the use of any mobile
crane or tower crane is carried out in the workplace by a crane operator.
(2) It shall be the duty of the responsible person —
(a) not to appoint any person as a rigger in a workplace unless the
person has successfully completed a training course acceptable
to the Commissioner to equip him to be a rigger; and
(b) to ensure that the rigger who is appointed under paragraph (1)
is attired in such a way as would distinctively identify him as
a rigger.
(3) No person shall rig up loads for any lifting operation by a mobile
crane or tower crane unless he is a rigger appointed in accordance with
paragraph (1).
(4) It shall be the duty of a rigger appointed under paragraph (1)
to —
(a) check the slings to be used for slinging the loads to ensure
that the slings are of good construction, sound and suitable
material, adequate strength and free from patent defect;
 12
(b) ensure that an adequate number of legs of the sling are used
and that the slinging angle is correct so as to prevent the sling
from being overloaded during the hoisting;
(c) ascertain the weight of the load which is to be lifted and inform
the crane operator of the weight of the load;
(d) ensure that only proper lifting gears are used in conjunction
with the sling;
(e) ensure that the load to be lifted is secure, stable and balanced;
(f) ensure that any loose load (which includes any stone, brick
or tile) is placed in a receptacle to prevent the load or part
thereof from falling during the lifting operation;
(g) place adequate padding at the edges of the load which come
in contact with the sling so as to prevent the sling from being
damaged; and
(h) report any defect in the lifting gear to the lifting supervisor.

Appointment and duties of signalman

19.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to appoint
a signalman before any lifting operation involving the use of any mobile
crane or tower crane is carried out in a workplace by a crane operator.
(2) It shall be the duty of the responsible person —
(a) not to appoint any person as a signalman in a workplace
unless the person has successfully completed a training
course acceptable to the Commissioner to equip him to be
a signalman; and
(b) to ensure that the signalman who is appointed under
paragraph (1) is attired in such a way as would distinctively
identify him as a signalman.
(3) No person shall give signal to the crane operator unless he is
a signalman appointed in accordance with paragraph (1).
(4) It shall be the duty of the signalman appointed under
paragraph (1) to —
(a) ensure or verify with the rigger that the load is properly
rigged up before he gives a clear signal to the crane operator
to lift the load; and
(b) give correct and clear signals to guide the crane operator in
the manoeuvre of the load safely to its destination.
 13
PART V
INSTALLATION, REPAIR, ALTERATION, TESTING
AND DISMANTLING OF MOBILE CRANE
OR TOWER CRANE

Only approved crane contractor to install, repair, alter or dismantle

mobile crane or tower crane
20.—(1) No person shall install, repair, alter or dismantle a mobile
crane or tower crane unless he is an approved crane contractor.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply —
(a) to the installation or dismantling of a fly jib; and
(b) to the repair of any non-load bearing part of a crane, unless
the repair affects the safe operation of the crane.

Application for approval to be approved crane contractor

21.—(1) A firm or company may apply to the Commissioner for
approval to act as an approved crane contractor.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) shall be —
(a) accompanied by the appropriate fee specified in the Third
Schedule and such fee shall not be refundable;
(b) in such form and manner as the Commissioner may require;
and
(c) accompanied by such particulars, information, statements and
documents as the Commissioner may require.

Certificate of approval
22.—(1) On receipt of an application under regulation 21(1),
the Commissioner may —
(a) issue to the applicant a certificate of approval, subject to such
conditions as the Commissioner may think fit to impose; or
(b) refuse to approve the application.
(2) Where the Commissioner refuses to approve the applicant to
act as an approved crane contractor, he shall give the applicant notice
in writing of the reasons for his refusal.
 14
(3) The Commissioner may at any time vary or revoke any of
the existing conditions imposed under paragraph (1) or impose new
conditions.
(4) A certificate of approval for a firm or company to act as
an approved crane contractor shall, unless the approval for the firm or
company to act as an approved crane contractor is earlier cancelled,
be valid for a period of 2 years from the date of the approval or for such
shorter period as the Commissioner may specify in the certificate of
approval.
(5) A certificate of approval may, on payment of the renewal fee
specified in the Third Schedule, be renewed by the Commissioner
for such period as the Commissioner may determine, from the date
immediately following that on which, but for its renewal, the certificate
of approval would have expired.

Production of certificate of approval upon request

23.—(1) It shall be the duty of an approved crane contractor to
produce his certificate of approval for inspection upon request by
an inspector.
(2) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of
an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding
$2,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine
not exceeding $5,000.

Suspension or cancellation of certificate

24. The Commissioner may suspend or cancel the certificate of
approval issued to any approved crane contractor if the Commissioner
is satisfied that the approved crane contractor —
(a) has obtained the certificate of approval under these
Regulations by means of fraud, false representation or the
concealment of any material fact; or
(b) is contravening or has contravened any condition subject to
which the certificate was issued.

Notice of suspension or cancellation of certificate

25.—(1) When the Commissioner has suspended or cancelled the
certificate of approval under regulation 24, the Commissioner shall
 15
inform the approved crane contractor concerned by notice in writing
of such suspension or cancellation.
(2) The suspension or cancellation shall take effect 21 days after
the date of the service of the notice on the approved crane contractor
or, if an appeal against the suspension or cancellation of the certificate
of approval has been made to the Minister under paragraph (4), on
the date the Minister dismisses the appeal.
(3) Notwithstanding that the suspension or cancellation has not
taken effect, any approved crane contractor whose certificate of
approval is suspended or cancelled by the Commissioner shall not,
between the date of the service of the notice of suspension or
cancellation and the date the suspension or cancellation takes effect
(both dates inclusive), install, repair, alter or dismantle a mobile crane
or tower crane.
(4) An approved crane contractor whose certificate of approval has
been suspended or cancelled by the Commissioner under regulation 24
may, within 21 days of the date of the service of the notice of suspension
or cancellation, appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(5) A notice of suspension or cancellation may be served on any
firm or company by leaving it at, or sending it by registered post to,
the last known business address.

Duties of approved crane contractor

26.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), it shall be the duty of an approved
crane contractor to —
(a) obtain a manufacturer’s manual which contains instructions
on the safe procedures for the installation, repair, alteration
and dismantling of the mobile crane or tower crane, before
he installs, repairs, alters or dismantles any mobile crane or
tower crane; and
(b) ensure that the crane is installed, repaired, altered or
dismantled in accordance with the instructions contained in
such manual.
(2) Where the manual referred to in paragraph (1) is not available,
it shall be the duty of the approved crane contractor to ensure that
the installation, repair, alteration or dismantling of any mobile crane
or tower crane is under the immediate supervision of an authorised
examiner.
 16
Duties of owner of mobile crane and tower crane
27. It shall be the duty of the owner of any mobile crane or tower
crane to ensure that after every installation, repair, alteration and
dismantling of a mobile crane or tower crane —
(a) the crane is tested and certified safe by an authorised
examiner for the operations for which it is intended; and
(b) the crane is not used unless it has been tested and certified
in accordance with sub-paragraph (a).

PART VI
MISCELLANEOUS

Offence
28. Any person who contravenes regulation 4(1) or (2), 5(1), (2)
(4) or (5), 14(3), 16, 17(1), (2) or (3), 18(1), (2), (3) or (4), 19(1), (2),
(3) or (4), 20(1), 25(3), 26(1) or (2) or 27 shall be guilty of an offence
and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

Revocation
29. The Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations (Cap. 104,
Rg 10) are revoked.

Savings and transitional provision

30. Every person who, immediately before 10th September 2011,
is —
(a) a crane operator registered under the repealed Factories
(Operation of Cranes) Regulations (Cap. 104, Rg 10); or
(b) an approved crane contractor approved under the repealed
Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations,
shall be deemed to be registered or approved under regulations 7 and
22 of these Regulations respectively, and such registration or approval
shall expire on the day it would have expired if these Regulations had
not been enacted.
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FIRST SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
TYPES OF MOBILE CRANES

Truck mounted crane

Type (a)

Type (b)

Lorry loader

Self-propelling wheel mounted crane

Self-propelling crawler track mounted crane

Portable crane
 18
SECOND SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
TYPES OF TOWER CRANES

(a) Mono tower (b) Inner and outer tower

(c) Telescopic tower

 19
SECOND SCHEDULE — continued

MOUNTED TOWER CRANES

(d) With saddle-jib and fixed tower

(e) With luffing jib and slewing tower

 20
THIRD SCHEDULE
Regulations 6(2), 8(3), 11(1),
21(2) and 22(5)
FEES

First column Second column

1. An application for registration as a crane operator $20
2. An application for renewal of registration as a crane $20
operator
3. To replace a certificate of registration as a crane $10 per certificate
operator to be replaced
4. An application for approval as a crane contractor $150
5. An application for renewal of approval as a crane $150.
contractor

Made this 8th day of September 2011.

LOH KHUM YEAN
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Manpower,
Singapore.

[C010-048-00010; AG/LLRD/SL/354A/2010/6 Vol. 1]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 65(8) of the Workplace
Safety and Health Act).

Printed for the Government of Singapore by the Government Printers