Crane operator rules in Queensland
What WorkSafe Queensland says about high risk work licences for cranes: the classes, how one slewing licence covers other crane types, the exceptions, how long a licence lasts and how renewal and late renewal work.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The sources are four WorkSafe Queensland pages read on October 9, 2026, which cite the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Queensland). The pages are run by the Office of Industrial Relations, phone 1300 362 128. The national picture is on the parent page, cranes in tree work.
At a glance
| Item | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Rule | No class of high risk work without the relevant high risk work licence |
| Regulation named | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 |
| Crane classes | CV, CN, RS, C2, C6, C1, C0, CD, CP, CT, CS and others |
| Licence term | 5 years; adding a class does not reset it |
| Renewal window after expiry | 12 months, but the licence is not valid in that time |
What the licence covers
WorkSafe Queensland says the regulation requires a high risk work licence for certain types of work, including using vehicle loading cranes, non-slewing mobile cranes and slewing mobile cranes. Its crane pages describe these classes:
- Vehicle loading crane (CV): capacity of 10 metre tonnes or more.
- Non-slewing mobile crane (CN): capacity greater than 3 tonnes, including articulated and locomotive cranes but not vehicle tow trucks.
- Slewing mobile cranes: C2 up to 20 tonnes, C6 up to 60 tonnes, C1 up to 100 tonnes and C0 over 100 tonnes. The page says the slewing class leaves out front-end loaders, backhoes, excavators and other earthmoving equipment configured for crane operation.
- Reach stacker (RS), derrick crane (CD), portal boom crane (CP), tower crane (CT) and self-erecting tower crane (CS).
The page says that for a new application for a CV or CN licence, two national units of competency can be completed: TLILIC0012A for a vehicle loading crane of 10 metre tonnes and above, and TLILIC3006A for a non-slewing mobile crane greater than 3 tonnes.
Encompassment
WorkSafe Queensland says amendments to the regulation reinstated the encompassment arrangements of the earlier legislation. A holder of a slewing mobile crane licence can operate a CV crane, a CN crane and a reach stacker without holding those licences. The C2 page lists CN, CV and RS as covered, with CV excluding the application of load estimation and slinging techniques. C6 also covers C2, C1 also covers C6 and C2, and C0 covers the slewing classes below it. A holder operating a CV crane this way cannot apply load estimation and slinging techniques, meaning cannot dog their own load. The page adds that until December 31, 2016 a CN holder could also operate a reach stacker, and from January 1, 2017 the RS class has been required.
Exceptions
The training and assessment page lists exceptions to the licence rule. They include a person enrolled in the course who is under the direct supervision of a licence holder of the same class, a person who passed the assessment and holds a certification not more than 60 days old while awaiting a decision, a person who applied within 60 days of passing, work on plant solely for manufacture, testing, installation, commissioning, maintenance, servicing, repair or disposal where the plant runs without load, and loading or unloading plant from a vehicle used to move it.
Term, checking and renewal
A licence is valid for 5 years unless cancelled, and the page says a card with no expiry date or photograph is no longer valid. It says a person conducting a business must not allow a person to do high risk work without the right licence, and should view the physical card and keep a copy on the worker's file. Holders get a renewal notice by post and email four to six weeks before expiry and must update contact details within 14 days of a change. Renewals are lodged online and need a Queensland Digital Identity and a customer reference number from the Department of Transport and Main Roads. A licence stays valid after a renewal lodged on or before the expiry date until the regulator decides. An application can be lodged up to 12 months after expiry, but the licence is not valid in that gap and the holder cannot do the work. After 12 months, unless extenuating circumstances exist, the person must retrain and be reassessed before a new application. The page says the regulator may direct a holder to be reassessed if it reasonably believes the holder may not be competent. The pages read do not state fees.