High Risk Work Licence - Bridge and Gantry Crane (CB)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Bridge and Gantry Crane (CB) licence is a high risk work licence that authorises you to operate bridge and gantry cranes, including overhead travelling cranes, in Australian workplaces. It is aimed at people who already work around cranes or want to move into crane operation: doggers and riggers, warehouse and yard staff, manufacturing and precast plant operators, and maintenance personnel who use cranes to move loads. It is a competency-based licence, so the assessment is not just a written test. You must show an assessor that you can plan a lift, inspect the equipment, sling and control a load, communicate with people around you, and shut down safely. The written component covers legislation and duty of care, hazard and risk control, crane types and load charts, pre-operational checks, load estimation and rigging, operating techniques, emergency response, communication and exclusion zones, environmental factors, and post-operational records. Preparation works best in layers: learn the terminology and load chart logic first, then practise the routine pre-start checks until they are second nature, then drill the operating sequence with an experienced operator or trainer. Ask your registered training organisation which units and assessment tools they use, and check your state or territory work health and safety regulator for licensing requirements, application steps and current fees.
What you'll study
About High Risk Work Licence - Bridge and Gantry Crane (CB) preparation
Who issues the CB licence and how do I apply?
Each state and territory work health and safety regulator, such as SafeWork NSW or WorkSafe Victoria, issues high risk work licences. You usually complete training and assessment with a registered training organisation, then lodge an application with the regulator. Check your local regulator's website for the current application process and fees.
What does the assessment actually involve?
Expect a knowledge test, a written or calculation component covering load charts and lift planning, and a practical assessment where you operate a crane under an assessor's observation. The practical usually includes pre-start checks, planning a lift, slinging, moving and positioning a load, and shutdown.
How long is the exam and what score do I need to pass?
Those details are set by the training package and your assessing organisation, and they can change. The official body publishes the current requirements, so confirm the structure, duration and pass mark with your registered training organisation or your state or territory regulator rather than relying on second-hand figures.
How hard is it, and what trips people up?
Most candidates who prepare thoroughly pass. Common problems are weak load chart reading, poor load estimation, rushing the pre-start inspection, forgetting to confirm communication signals, and unsafe positioning near the load or the crane's travel path. Practising the full sequence slowly and consistently fixes most of these.
What should I study first?
Start with crane terminology and load charts, because everything else depends on understanding capacity, radius and configuration. Then move to hazard identification and pre-operational checks, and finish with operating technique, communication and emergency procedures. Practise the practical sequence alongside the theory rather than leaving it to the end.
Can I retake the assessment if I fail?
Retake arrangements are set by your registered training organisation and the regulator, and they vary. Ask your provider about their reassessment policy before you enrol, and check the regulator's website for any licensing-related conditions. You may need additional training before a further attempt.
How long is the licence valid, and what about refresher training?
Licence validity and renewal rules are set by your state or territory regulator and can differ, so confirm the current period on its website. Many workplaces also require periodic verification of competency; that is a separate employer or site requirement from the licence itself.
Do I need other tickets as well?
It depends on the work. Slinging loads safely often calls for dogging or rigging competencies, and some sites require additional inductions or verification of competency. Check with your employer and the site before you start work, because the CB licence alone does not cover every rigging task.
What equipment should I practise on?
Practise on the crane type you expect to operate, ideally with an experienced operator supervising. Familiarise yourself with pendant or radio controls, the load chart specific to that crane, and the site's exclusion zone and communication arrangements. Different cranes have different controls and capacity limits.