Plant supply, design and registration

  • Plant includes machinery, equipment, appliances, containers, implements and tools and any components or anything fitted or connected to those things.

Plant in the construction industry includes items as diverse as cranes, elevating work platforms, scaffolds and power tools. Plant is a major cause of death and injury and poses risks to health and safety throughout its lifecycle. Common risks associated with plant include the plant overturning, things falling on the operator of the plant, the operator being ejected from the plant or the plant colliding with any person or thing. The term ‘plant’ also refers to components of, or anything fitted or connected to, those things. 

Plant includes: 

  • machinery – for example, conveyors, cranes and forklifts 
  • equipment – for example, quad bikes, lifts and scaffolds 
  • appliances – for example, computers 
  • containers – for example, shipping containers  
  • implements – for example, planting machines 
  • power tools – for example, drills and saws 

As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have a duty to register items. 

Plant registration

A person with management or control of an item of plant may apply to the regulator for the registration of that item of plant. 

There are many different items of plant in the construction industry which require registration. These include:

  • tower cranes (including self-erecting tower cranes).
  • hoists designed to lift people with a platform movement exceeding 2.4m.
  • work boxes designed to be suspended from cranes.
  • concrete placing booms.
  • prefabricated scaffolding.
  • boom-type elevating work platforms.
  • gantry cranes with a safe working load greater than 5 tonnes.
  • bridge cranes with a safe working load of greater than 10 tonnes.
  • gantry cranes or bridge cranes which are designed to handle molten metal or hazardous chemicals under Schedule 11 of the Model WHS Regulations.
  • mast climbing work platforms.
  • mobile cranes with a rated capacity of greater than 10 tonnes. 

For other items of plant requiring registration, please see Schedule 5 of the Model WHS Regulations. 

Multiple duties with plant 

You can have more than one duty at a time. For example, if you own and operate plant, you have duties as a person with management or control of plant. 
If you modify it yourself, you may also take on duties as a plant designer and manufacturer. 

Multiple people can also have the same duty at the same time. 

Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers  

If you design, manufacture, import or supply plant, you must: 

  • ensure the plant you design, manufacture, import or supply is without risks, so far as is reasonably practicable – or minimise risks if that’s not possible. 
  • obtain and pass on information about its proper use and risks. 

For more information on duties of plant designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers, please see Chapter 5 of the Model WHS Regulations.

For more information

  • Did you know

    The WHS regulator in your state or territory can provide practical advice, resources and tools to help you be safe when working in construction. They can also let you know which WHS laws apply to you.