After two tragic accidents involving truck cranes in 2023, the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority has clarified how expert inspections of such cranes should be carried out. It is particularly important that the warning system for the crane arm and outriggers is correctly installed, functions properly, and is inspected by a certified company.
One accident occurred in Bergen in July 2023, when the driver of a truck with a raised crane boom drove into a footbridge. The bridge collapsed over the driver's cab, killing the driver. The accident was investigated by the Accident Investigation Board Norway, and the report was published in late 2024.
Inspections show that inspection practices for warning systems vary considerably, which can endanger safety. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority has therefore issued a clarification: the manufacturer's operating instructions should always be the starting point for inspections. If the operating instructions are missing or do not provide sufficient guidance, the applicable standard for truck cranes should be used.
> Read more about inspections carried out by expert companies
Employer's responsibility
The employer is responsible for ensuring that both the vehicle and the crane are inspected and in proper condition. If the inspection reveals defects that make further use risky, the equipment must be taken out of service until necessary repairs have been made.
It is also the employer's responsibility to ensure that the manufacturer's instructions are followed for both pre-use checks, regular maintenance and the annual inspection that must be carried out by a certified expert company.
The owner of the truck must also ensure that the actual installation of the crane on the truck's chassis is checked, unless the manufacturer has already carried out a corresponding installation check in accordance with the Machinery Regulations.
The role of expert activity
The clarification is specifically aimed at certified expert businesses and describes two types of controls:
1. Periodic annual inspection:
When a certified company carries out periodic expert inspections, relevant parts of the manufacturer's instructions for use shall be used as a basis.
2. Assembly control:
When inspecting the assembly of truck cranes, the manufacturer's instructions for the assembly work must be used as a basis. This applies to both the crane manufacturer's and the truck manufacturer's instructions. If additional equipment such as a support platform is installed, the assembly declaration must also be included in the inspection.
In order for the employer to be able to ensure the safety of their employees, the inspection must provide clear and necessary information about the condition of the crane.
The clarification should provide uniform practice
The Accident Investigation Board Norway has pointed out that certified expert organizations often use different inspection forms with varying scope and procedures. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's inspection in the spring of 2025 confirmed these findings. To ensure a uniform level of safety, the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority has therefore prepared a clear clarification on how the inspection should be carried out.
The inspection shall primarily follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. If these are missing or do not provide sufficient information, the standard NS-EN 12999 shall be used as a reference. If the crane does not have an installed and functioning warning system in accordance with the standard, further use is not recommended.
