ISO 12480-1-2024 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 12480-1-2024 — Cranes — Safe use — Part 1: General. This international standard establishes required practices for the safe use of cranes by defining a safe system of work covering planning, selection, erection and dismantling, operation and maintenance of cranes, and the selection and duties of operators, slingers and signallers.

Abstract

This document specifies practices to ensure the safe use of powered (land‑based) cranes through safe work systems that include task planning, crane selection, positioning, erection and dismantling, operation and maintenance, and personnel selection (operators, slingers, signallers). It explicitly excludes manually operated (non‑powered) cranes and cranes for which at least one motion is manually operated; it also excludes cranes permanently mounted on vessels except when a land‑based crane is temporarily affixed to a vessel.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: August 6, 2024 (ISO publication / registration date).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 53.020.20 (Cranes).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2024).
• Number of pages: 18 pages.

Scope

ISO 12480-1:2024 sets out general requirements and practices for the safe use of cranes. It covers the implementation of a safe system of work for crane operations including task planning, selection and positioning of cranes, erection and dismantling, operation, maintenance, and the selection and responsibilities of operators, slingers and signallers. The standard does not apply to non‑powered/manual cranes, cranes where at least one motion is manually operated, or to cranes mounted on vessels except when a land‑based crane is temporarily affixed to a vessel.

Key topics and requirements

• Establishment and documentation of a safe system of work for crane tasks (planning, risk assessment and control).
• Selection, positioning and suitability criteria for cranes and associated lifting accessories.
• Requirements for erection and dismantling operations and safe procedures for these activities.
• Operational requirements: safe working practices during lifting operations, communication and signalling, and roles of operators, slingers and signallers.
• Maintenance and inspection responsibilities to ensure continuing safe use.
• Exclusions and special cases: manual (non‑powered) cranes and most shipboard cranes are excluded; temporary affixation of land cranes to vessels is covered.
• New/updated elements in the 2024 edition include clarified terminology (e.g., “operator”), revised communications requirements, and explicit treatment of remote/remote‑control operations; requirements for lifting persons are now handled as an informative annex (where retained).

Typical use and users

This standard is used by organizations and personnel responsible for crane operations and safety management, including crane owners and operators, site managers, lift planners, safety officers, maintenance personnel, equipment purchasers, training bodies, and regulatory compliance teams. It is intended to inform safe work procedures, training curricula, selection and competency requirements for personnel, and company/contractor safety rules for lifting operations.

Related standards

ISO 12480 is a multi‑part series on safe use of cranes; other relevant parts and related ISO standards include other parts of the ISO 12480 series and standards addressing competency and inspection (for example ISO standards on crane operator and inspector competency and ISO 23814 series). National adoptions (e.g., UNI adoption) and regional guidance documents may also reference or adopt ISO 12480-1:2024.

Keywords

cranes; safe use; lifting operations; crane operation; erection; dismantling; maintenance; operator competency; slinger; signaller; remote operation; risk assessment; lift planning.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 12480-1:2024 is the second edition of the international standard titled "Cranes — Safe use — Part 1: General", providing general requirements and practices for the safe use of cranes.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the safe system of work for powered (land‑based) cranes, including planning, selection, erection/dismantling, operation, maintenance, and selection and duties of operators, slingers and signallers; it excludes non‑powered/manual cranes and most shipboard cranes except when a land crane is temporarily affixed to a vessel.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Crane owners and operators, lift planners, site and safety managers, maintenance teams, training organizations, and regulators use the standard to develop procedures, training and compliance programs for safe crane operations.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current — ISO 12480-1:2024 (Edition 2) was published and registered in August 2024 and replaces the withdrawn ISO 12480-1:1997 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 12480 is a series addressing safe use of cranes; this is Part 1 (General). Other parts and related ISO documents cover more specific topics such as competency, monitoring and inspection practices.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Cranes, safe use, lift planning, operator, slinger, signaller, erection, dismantling, maintenance, remote operation, risk assessment.