Cranes are essential for moving heavy materials. They enable construction workers to work efficiently and safely. For cranes to be used safely, they must undergo maintenance and periodic inspections.

Serious accidents can occur when working with cranes.

One way to reduce this risk is to ensure that the crane itself remains in good condition. Cranes must therefore undergo periodic maintenance and re-inspection. This helps ensure that cranes remain safe to use.

Shared responsibility

  • The owner of a crane is required to have it maintained and to keep documentary evidence of that maintenance. If the crane has an operating load of 2 tonnes or more, the owner must have it inspected annually by a competent person or body. Mobile cranes and tower cranes with a load moment of at least 10 tonne-metres must undergo re-inspection every 2 years by a Dutch conformity assessment body (NL-CAB).
  • A Dutch conformity assessment body (NL-CAB) carries out the 2-yearly re-inspection. It checks the crane's safety and technical condition, including the hoisting mechanism and safety devices.
  • The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment designates the NL-CABs.
  • The scheme manager (Stichting TCVT – Foundation for Supervising the Certification of Vertical Transport) lays down the criteria against which cranes are assessed during re-inspection: the certification scheme.
  • The Dutch Accreditation Council assesses whether NL-CABs comply with the European requirements for inspection bodies.
  • The Netherlands Labour Authority ensures that NL-CABs carry out crane inspections in accordance with the rules of the Machines (Commodities Act) Decree and the certification scheme. It also carries out inspections at locations where cranes are used, such as construction sites.

Risks, approach and results

For more information about the risks identified by the NLA, the approach it takes and the effect of it, see the page Cranes: risks, approach and results.