On many work sites, both an EWP and a crane could technically do part of the job. Choosing between them — or choosing a combination machine — depends on what actually needs to move: people, loads, or both. Getting this decision right saves hire cost, reduces site footprint, and ensures the equipment is being used within its certified purpose.
What EWPs are designed for
Elevated work platforms are designed to carry people — and their tools and materials — to a position at height where they can work. The platform provides a stable, enclosed working surface. The operator works from the basket, staying in it for the duration of the task.
EWPs are ideal for: installation, inspection, maintenance, pruning, painting, overhead line work, and any task that requires sustained work at height by one or more people. The machine stays positioned; the work happens from the basket.
What cranes are designed for
Cranes are designed to lift and move loads — materials, equipment, structural members, prefabricated assemblies. The load is suspended from the hook on a rope or chain; the crane operator controls it from a cab or remote control on the ground.
Cranes are ideal for: placing structural steel, lifting roofing materials, loading trucks, setting plant and equipment, and any task that requires moving a load through space. People are generally not carried in crane hooks — a certified work box on a crane requires specific engineering approval and strict operational controls.
When a combined machine makes sense
Some truck-mounted platforms combine an EWP function with a crane or auger capability. A crane borer truck, for example, can lift materials with the crane and also deploy an EWP for personnel access. These combination machines are common in utility construction, tree clearing, and civil works where both functions are needed in the same site visit.
Operating the crane and EWP functions simultaneously — or near simultaneously — requires careful site management and must be within the machine's certified operating parameters.
The decision guide
Use an EWP when:
- Personnel need to reach and work at height.
- The job requires sustained positioning — not just getting someone up and down quickly.
- The loads being moved are within the basket's rated capacity (tools and materials only).
- Precise positioning matters — EWPs can hold the basket at an exact point in three dimensions.
Use a crane when:
- You are lifting materials, not primarily positioning people.
- The load exceeds what an EWP basket can carry.
- The work requires moving a load from one point to another — not holding it in one place.
- The site geometry requires lifting over obstacles or across a large horizontal span.
This guide is general information prepared by EWP Australia and is grounded in publicly available Australian Standards and Safe Work Australia material. It is not a substitute for the current published edition of the relevant standard or for site-specific engineering advice. Always work from the current standard and consult a competent person for your specific equipment and application.