Quick answer: Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators are notably more stress-exposed than most Australian occupations — ranked #54 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 52.6/100 against a national average of 47.4. The biggest drivers are physical environment and responsibility burden.
Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demands27.4 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burden74 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demands67.3 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control25.4 vs 24.5 avg
- Precision and monotony68.8 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environment53 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing. Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for crane, hoist and lift operators
Compared with the average Australian occupation, crane, hoist and lift operators score furthest above the norm on physical environment (53 vs 38.2 average), responsibility burden (74 vs 60 average) and pace and demands (67.3 vs 56 average). The single biggest individual stress factor is responsible for others' health and safety at 93.2/100 — against an all-occupation average of 57.3.
The occupation scores below the national average for emotional demands (27.4 vs 37.9), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for crane, hoist and lift operators
- 1Responsibility burden
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
93.2/100
All-occupation average: 57.3
- 2Pace and demands
Duration of Typical Work Week
89/100
All-occupation average: 62.1
- 3Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
88.5/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 4Physical environment
Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable
85.8/100
All-occupation average: 52.3
- 5Pace and demands
Frequency of Decision Making
79.2/100
All-occupation average: 70.7
All 22 stress factors for crane, hoist and lift operators
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
27.4 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People2 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People41 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations39.2 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
74 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results67.8 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety93.2 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results74.8 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error74.8 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others59.2 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
67.3 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure70 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week89 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment69.2 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making79.2 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition29 vs 52.4
Lack of control
25.4 vs 24.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions25 vs 23.6
- Amount of Highly Structured Work25.8 vs 25.3
Precision and monotony
68.8 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks49 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate88.5 vs 78.6
Physical environment
53 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable85.8 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting59 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures70.8 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections1.8 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity48 vs 61.1
Understand these hazards
The elevated stress categories for crane, hoist and lift operators map to recognised psychosocial work factors under ISO 45003 and Australian WHS legislation. Learn what each one is and how it can be controlled:
- Work Demands →The volume, pace, and complexity of what is asked of workers.
- Role Clarity →Whether workers clearly understand what is expected of them.
- Leadership →The quality and consistency of management behaviour at all levels.
- Schedule and Hours →The arrangement of working time and its effect on health and recovery.
- Autonomy →The degree of control workers have over how they do their work.
- Learning and Stimulation →Whether work offers enough challenge, variety, and opportunity for growth.
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
Two control-related variables are reported by SafeWork with inverted polarity (“freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”). We reverse these and present them as lack of autonomy to make decisions and amount of highly structured work, so that a higher score consistently indicates greater stress exposure.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators: how stressful is the job?
Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators rank #54 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 52.6/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 83.0% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for crane, hoist and lift operators?
The highest-scoring hazards are responsible for others' health and safety (93.2/100), duration of typical work week (89/100) and importance of being exact or accurate (88.5/100). Overall, the occupation scores above the national average in responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony and physical environment.
Which stress factors are lower for crane, hoist and lift operators?
Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators score below the national average for emotional demands (27.4 vs 37.9 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for crane, hoist and lift operators. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.