Crane Inspection under the Crane Ordinance: Duties, Intervals and Scope

The inspection of cranes is among the most demanding inspection duties in the commercial sphere — and among the most expensive in the event of a claim if it is neglected. In Switzerland, cranes are the only type of work equipment with their own ordinance: the Crane Ordinance (SR 832.312.15), which governs the safe use of cranes and goes beyond the general requirements of the VUV.

Short definition: crane inspection is a statutory safety inspection under the Crane Ordinance and the VUV. Cranes must be checked and maintained regularly; scope and frequency follow from the crane type, the manufacturer's specifications and the hazard assessment. Depending on the crane type, a recognised inspection body is required. The duty rests with the employer or operator.

A note on scope: the German DGUV Regulation 52 and the distinction between "qualified person" and "expert" do not apply in Switzerland. Anyone adopting German inspection plans must convert them to the Crane Ordinance and the VUV — including the logic of intervals, which here is not based on a statutory annual interval.

The essential legal bases for crane inspection in Switzerland:

• Crane Ordinance (SR 832.312.15): the core regulation on the safe use of cranes; governs requirements for cranes, their maintenance and checking, and the crane operator's licence
• VUV Art. 32b: maintenance of work equipment and its checking
• VUV Art. 3–6: employer duties, instruction of employees
• EKAS Guideline 6512: requirements for inspection, maintenance and specialists for work equipment generally
• Manufacturer's specifications: in Switzerland these are the primary source for inspection intervals and can contain stricter requirements

In addition, Suva provides information sheets and checklists on cranes; supervision is exercised by Suva, SECO and the cantonal labour inspectorates.

No blanket statutory annual interval

Unlike in Germany or Austria, Swiss law names no fixed annual interval. Scope and frequency of checks follow from the Crane Ordinance, the manufacturer's specifications and the hazard assessment. In practice an annual cycle has become established for cranes; with intensive use or exposed erection sites, shorter intervals are customary.

Inspection by the recognised inspection body

Depending on the crane type, the Crane Ordinance requires inspection by a recognised inspection body or a correspondingly qualified specialist. Tower slewing cranes, bridge and gantry cranes and mobile cranes each have their own requirements as to scope and inspecting body.

A maintenance plan is mandatory

EKAS Guideline 6512 requires maintenance and checks to be carried out in a planned and documented way. A defined interval in the maintenance plan is therefore mandatory, even without a statutory figure.

The requirements for crane inspections are stricter than for other work equipment:

Inspector	Qualification	Scope of inspection
Recognised inspection body	Recognition or accreditation for the discipline	Inspections under the Crane Ordinance by crane type; greater inspection depth
Specialist (EKAS 6512)	Training + experience + current activity	Ongoing checks and maintenance within the maintenance plan

The difference from Germany: there, the annual routine inspection can be carried out by a "qualified person", and only certain crane classes additionally require an expert. In Switzerland, the responsible body follows directly from the Crane Ordinance and the crane type.

Crane operators: the Crane Ordinance requires a crane operator's licence for operating certain cranes. That is an operator qualification and is not to be confused with authorisation to inspect.

Luibl Rental does not offer inspection or qualification services to third parties. Details: Who may carry out the inspection? →

A complete crane inspection covers:

Load-bearing means and load handling:

• Steel ropes for broken wires, wear and deformation; check discard criteria against the manufacturer's specifications and SN standards
• Load hooks for opening, twisting and cracking
• Attachment points and spreader mountings

Travel gear and undercarriages:

• Wheels and rails for wear and track guidance (on bridge and gantry cranes)
• Travel drives and brakes

Hoisting gear and drive:

• Hoist motor, gearbox, rope drum and rope guidance
• Hoist limit switch and overload protection
• Braking devices of the hoisting gear

Safety devices:

• Wind measuring devices (on cranes in open terrain)
• Crane warning signals, lighting, emergency shut-off
• Safety bars and fall protection at the crane operator's station

Crane log and documentation:

• The inspection documentation must be maintained permanently in accordance with the Crane Ordinance and stays with the crane
• The records must be produced to the supervisory bodies — Suva, SECO or the cantonal labour inspectorate — on request

Crane inspections are among the more cost-intensive work equipment inspections. Guide ranges:

• Small construction and tower cranes (up to 50 tm): approx. 500–950 CHF per inspection
• Medium cranes (50–200 tm): approx. 800–1,500 CHF per inspection
• Large and heavy-duty cranes (>200 tm): approx. 1,400–3,500 CHF per inspection
• Initial and extraordinary inspections: considerably greater effort; obtain individual quotes

Influencing factors: crane type, place of erection, accessibility, the inspection body engaged, travel distances, reporting effort. These ranges are guide values without warranty.

Anyone renting cranes from Luibl Rental receives inspected equipment with complete documentation. As lessor, Luibl Rental carries the periodic inspection duty — the inspection workload for this work equipment falls away when you rent.

As operator, the ongoing duties remain with you: checks before use, safe erection, instruction under Art. 6 VUV, and deploying only crane operators holding the crane operator's licence required under the Crane Ordinance.

Delivery is handled by our own low-loader fleet — throughout Switzerland and across Europe, directly to your place of use. For crane types, load capacity classes and availability: Rent cranes →

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How often must a crane be inspected?

There is no statutory annual interval. Scope and frequency follow from the Crane Ordinance, the manufacturer's specifications and the hazard assessment; in practice an annual cycle is customary. What is decisive is a defined, justified and documented interval in the maintenance plan.

Does DGUV Regulation 52 apply in Switzerland?

No. DGUV Regulation 52 is German law. In Switzerland the Crane Ordinance (SR 832.312.15) applies in conjunction with the VUV. The German distinction between "qualified person" and "expert" also does not exist here.

Who may carry out the crane inspection?

Depending on the crane type, a recognised inspection body or a correspondingly qualified specialist — the responsible body follows from the Crane Ordinance. This is to be distinguished from the crane operator's licence, which concerns operation.

What does a crane inspection cost?

Depending on crane type and scope: for small construction cranes approx. 500–950 CHF, for medium cranes approx. 800–1,500 CHF per inspection. Initial and extraordinary inspections involve considerably more effort.

Is a rental crane already inspected?

All cranes from the Luibl rental fleet are delivered with a valid inspection record and complete documentation. The periodic inspection duty rests with Luibl Rental as lessor. Deploying crane operators with a valid licence remains your task.