Magic Glasses: Crane Certificates and Inspections

At first glance, the crane looks fine. It is clean, set up correctly, and ready to work. When you put on the Magic Glasses, you stop trusting appearances and start checking proof. That is where competence shows itself.

Quick Scene-Setter

A crane arrives on site for a routine lift. The operator is experienced. The machine is well presented. Nothing looks out of place.

The job feels straightforward.

What Most People See

Most people see:

• A modern crane that looks well-maintained

• An operator who knows the job

• Outriggers set correctly

• A lift that should take only minutes

The assumption is simple: “If the crane is here, it must be compliant.”

What the Magic Glasses Show You

The Magic Glasses prompt a basic question:

Is the crane certificate current?

When you check, you notice:

• The Certificate of Inspection has expired

• The inspection date has passed

• The document is missing, damaged, or unreadable

This changes everything.

A current certificate confirms that:

• Critical components have been inspected by a competent person

• Safety systems were tested

• Defects were identified and addressed

• The crane was deemed safe for continued operation

If the certificate is out of date, you no longer know:

• When the crane was last properly inspected

• Whether defects were identified but not repaired

• Whether inspections are being rushed, skipped, or ignored

The real concern is not just the certificate.

It is the question it raises:

If this basic requirement is missed, what else has been missed?

Why This Matters

Crane inspections are not paperwork exercises. They are a control against:

• Structural failure

• Mechanical defects

• Worn components are going unnoticed

• False confidence in the equipment

An expired or missing certificate removes an important layer of protection for:

• The operator

• The lift crew

• Other workers on site

• Anyone inside the exclusion zone

The Controls That Matter

Practical steps that reduce risk:

• Check the Certificate of Inspection before the lift starts

• Confirm the certificate is current and legible

• Verify it matches the crane on site

• Stop the job if the certificate is expired or missing

• Escalate the issue immediately rather than “working around it”

• Treat certification gaps as a serious warning sign, not an admin error

Magic Glasses Checklist – Crane Certificates

• Is the Certificate of Inspection present on the crane?

• Is the certificate current and within date?

• Does the certificate match the crane model and serial number?

• Is the certificate readable and intact?

• Has anyone actually checked it, not just assumed it exists?

• If it is missing or expired, has the lift been stopped?

A crane can look perfect and still be non-compliant. The Magic Glasses teach you to look past appearance and check evidence. A current crane certificate is a minimum standard, not a formality.

Next time a crane arrives on site, pause, check the certificate, and ask the harder question. If this is wrong, what else might be?

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Magic Glasses:  The magic glasses come from the reality of - when I look at my books, I don't see a problem. But when my accountant looks at the books, it's a whole different story. He must have a special set of glasses.

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As PCBU's, Officers and Workers, we have an obligation to learn what we are up to and the risks. Our actions and the standards we accept also affect those around us. This magic glasses post is made to help others see what we see.