Safety on the job – Our Commitment to Doing It Right

Here at Swanson Transport, safety isn’t a box to tick - it’s central to how we operate and how we work. Every lift, delivery, and site interaction is planned and executed with a clear focus on risk management, compliance, and doing the job right the first time. Our systems, training, and equipment are aligned with New Zealand regulatory requirements and industry best practice.

Skilled, Certified Operators

All Swanson Transport knuckle boom crane operators are appropriately trained and assessed, holding relevant NZQA unit standards including:

  • US16617 – Safely operate a truck-loader crane

  • US30072 – Prepare for and sling regular loads safely

Our drivers are also dangerous goods certified, ensuring compliance when transporting dangerous goods.

Additionally some selected operators have additional qualifications for task specific jobs I.E. EWP (Elevated Work Platform), BESS and more.

Beyond formal qualifications, our operators receive additional in-house training in addition to NZQA unit standards, keeping skills sharp, reinforcing safe lifting techniques, hazard awareness, and site-specific risk control and ensuring best practice is applied on every site.

Strong Safety Culture and Continuous Learning

Safety is reinforced through regular team meetings, toolbox discussions, and shared learning. These sessions allow our team to review completed jobs, discuss site challenges, reinforce safe work practices and apply learnings across future work. This proactive approach supports continuous improvement and consistent safety outcomes.

Certified Equipment and Planned Maintenance

We maintain close controls around equipment safety and compliance:

  • All lifting gear is independently certified annually

  • Cranes are independently certified annually

  • Visual inspections are completed prior to every lift

  • Trucks and cranes are operated under a well-documented servicing and maintenance schedule.

With that each working day begins with mandatory pre-start checks on all vehicles, ensuring the truck is ready to go and faults or defects are identified and addressed before operations commence.

Safety Equipment as Standard

All Swanson Transport vehicles are fitted with essential safety equipment, including:

  • Basic First aid kits

  • Fire extinguishers

  • Wheel chocks

  • Spill kits (standard on Hiabs)

  • Traffic cones (standard on Hiabs)

This ensures our crews are prepared to respond to on-site risks and environmental considerations should an incident were to occur.

Planned, Controlled Lifting Operations

Safety planning is central to our lifting operations and all knuckle boom crane jobs are supported by lift plans as standard, ensuring loads, reach, ground conditions, and hazards are clearly identified and assessed to put the appropriate precautions in place.

For higher-risk or more complex lifts, Swanson Transport can provide Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) to clearly define hazards, controls, and responsibilities.

To further support safe outcomes, we offer site checks, allowing potential risks, access constraints, and lift requirements to be assessed in advance and incorporated into a clear, practical plan.

Industry Memberships and Professional Alignment

We’re proud to maintain active memberships with a range of recognized industry organizations and professional bodies relevant to transport, lifting, and logistics. To ensure we remain aligned with current legislation, safety guidance, and industry best practice.

Through ongoing engagement with these organizations, we stay informed on regulatory changes, emerging risks, and improvements in safety systems and lifting methodologies. This external alignment supports continuous improvement across our operations and provides our clients with added confidence that our practices are benchmarked against recognized industry standards.

Our memberships and accreditations include:

  • National Road Carriers

  • NZ Heavy Haulage Association

  • Crane Association of New Zealand

  • Site Wise

  • Site Safe

  • Tōtika

  • Construct Safe

  • ACC Fleet Saver – Gold Level

 A Safety Partner You Can Rely On

By investing in qualified people, certified equipment, structured planning, and clear communication, We ensure to provide you with the confidence that safety is being actively managed on every job. When safe lifting and reliable transport matter, Swanson Transport is a partner you can trust.

Nick Longuet-Higgins