Mobile Crane Inspections & Certification
A mobile crane earns its keep by moving from job to job, and every relocation, set-up and pick adds cycles to the boom, the slew ring, the outriggers and the load-bearing structure. Inspection and certification are what prove that structure is still sound — not a formality, but the documented basis on which the crane is allowed to keep lifting. We carry out independent mobile crane inspections and certification across all-terrain, rough-terrain and city (pick-and-carry style) cranes, working to the AS 2550 series for safe use and AS 1418 for the design framework the machine was built to.
Because a mobile crane combines a road-going or site-mobile carrier with a complex lifting structure, an inspection has to look at both halves and the interface between them. We assess the boom and telescoping sections, the winch and rope system, the hook block, the slew bearing, the outrigger and levelling arrangement, and the safe-load and rated-capacity indicators the operator relies on. Everything is recorded so you finish with a clear compliance picture and, where required, the certification documentation that lets the crane return to service. Where a defect is found, it is rated by severity so you can tell at a glance what must be rectified before the next lift and what can be scheduled into planned maintenance. We work around your operation to keep downtime to a minimum, and because we are independent of every crane manufacturer, the report you receive reflects the true condition of the machine rather than pointing you toward a particular parts channel or service network.
Built For
- Crane hire businesses keeping mobile fleets compliant and hireable
- Construction, civil and infrastructure contractors running their own cranes
- Government, council and utility asset managers with mixed lifting fleets
- Owner-operators of a single all-terrain, rough-terrain or city crane
- Buyers and sellers who need an independent condition and compliance record
Equipment & Coverage
- All-terrain mobile cranes
- Rough-terrain cranes for site work
- City and compact pick-and-carry style cranes
- Truck-mounted mobile cranes
- Boom, slew ring, outrigger and rated-capacity indicator systems
The Process
Confirm the crane & history
We record the make, model, configuration and age, and review the logbook and prior inspection history so the assessment is scoped to the crane in front of us rather than a generic checklist. Knowing what has been done before, and what is coming due, means the inspection targets the right components and nothing is duplicated or missed.
Inspect the lifting structure
The boom sections, wear pads, slew bearing, winch, rope, hook block and connecting pins are examined for wear, distortion, corrosion and fatigue across the load path, since these are the components that carry every lift and where fatigue quietly accumulates over a crane's working life.
Check carrier, outriggers & safety systems
Outriggers, levelling, the carrier interface and the rated-capacity and safe-load indicators are checked, because on a mobile crane stability and load limiting are as critical as the structure — a sound boom on an unstable base is no safer than a compromised one.
Test, certify & document
Function and, where warranted, load testing verify the crane performs to its rating, defects are rated by severity and recorded, and you receive the logbook entries and certification documentation the crane needs to return to service compliant.
Compliance & Standards
Mobile cranes are designed within the AS 1418 series and used, sited, maintained and inspected under the AS 2550 series, which frames what safe use actually requires across a crane's working life. Routine and periodic inspections keep the machine safe between the deeper assessments, and a major inspection falls due at the interval set by the relevant standard and equipment class — commonly 5-year or 10-year depending on equipment type and duty. We reference the applicable standards generically, record only what has genuinely been inspected or tested, and work independently of any manufacturer so the assessment stays objective. Keeping a crane's inspection records current is also what keeps it insurable and defensible if an incident is ever investigated: a lapsed due date can shift liability onto the duty holder, so booking ahead of the date rather than after it is always the safer position. We do not invent intervals to create work — the frequency follows the standard and the manufacturer's requirements for the specific machine and its duty.
Why EWP Australia
- Independent inspection and certification across all mobile crane classes
- Both the lifting structure and the carrier/outrigger interface assessed
- Rated-capacity and safe-load indicator checks included in scope
- Defect reporting that separates safety-critical items from cosmetic wear
- Australia-wide mobile field service — we come to the crane
Common Questions
What standards do mobile crane inspections work to?
Mobile cranes are designed within the AS 1418 series and inspected, maintained and used under the AS 2550 series. Those standards frame the safe-use, inspection and testing regime we follow. We reference them generically and record only what has actually been assessed, rather than quoting clause numbers that may not apply to your specific configuration.
Do you inspect all-terrain, rough-terrain and city cranes?
Yes. We cover all-terrain cranes, rough-terrain site cranes and compact city or pick-and-carry style cranes. The inspection principles are shared, but the scope adapts to each configuration — for example the carrier and outrigger assessment differs between a road-going all-terrain crane and a compact city unit, and a rough-terrain crane that works on uneven ground puts different demands on its axles, tyres and levelling than one that sets up on prepared hardstand. We scope the inspection to how the crane is actually built and used so the findings reflect its real duty.
How often does a mobile crane need a major inspection?
A major inspection is due at the interval set by the relevant standard and equipment class — commonly 5-year or 10-year depending on the equipment type and how hard it is worked. Between majors, routine and periodic inspections keep the crane safe. We will confirm which interval applies to your specific machine rather than claiming a single universal figure.
Are you a crane manufacturer's authorised agent?
No. We are an independent access and lifting equipment specialist. That independence is the point — our inspection and certification findings reflect the actual condition of the crane, not a manufacturer's sales or service agenda, and we work across all makes and models.
Do you check the rated-capacity and safe-load indicators?
Yes. On a mobile crane the load-limiting and stability systems are as safety-critical as the structure, so the rated-capacity indicator, safe-load systems, outriggers and levelling are all part of the inspection scope and are recorded in the documentation. These systems are what keep the operator inside the crane's safe working envelope, and a fault in them can be just as dangerous as a structural defect, so they are never treated as an afterthought.
Can you inspect our cranes on site?
Yes. EWP Australia operates Australia-wide as a mobile field service, so inspections are carried out where your crane is based or working rather than requiring you to transport it to a depot. That keeps disruption to your operation to a minimum and lets us fit around your schedule. To arrange an inspection, call 0416 689 689, or email info@ewpaustralia.com.au.
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