Use this checklist for mobile crane lift planning

A separate study involving a review of 158 crane-related incidents from 1997 to 1999 identified the most frequent causes of mobile crane incidents to be instability (e.g., unsecured load, load capacity exceeded, ground not level or too soft, etc.), lack of communication, and electrical contract.   However, “people do not plan to fail, they fail to plan.”  As a result, less-than-adequate mobile crane lift planning encompasses most, if not all, of the above causal factor categories.  Therefore, establishing criteria for “critical lifts,” preparing formal lift plans, and utilizing lift planning checklists are important components in preventing mobile crane failures.

“Avert the danger that has yet to come.”  - Yoga Sutra

Critical Lifts

All crane lifts require some level of planning whether only a 1,000-pound load is being lift or a complex 2,000-ton multi-crane lift is to be made.  Even non-critical lifts require knowledge of the weight of the load (and other components considered to be part of the load), the configuration of the crane, the rated capacity of the crane at the crane’s lift configuration, and factors that may affect the cranes rated capacity in order to make a “go/no go” decision.  However, “critical lifts” require more extensive planning and oversight by qualified persons and thus, a more formal approach.  For such “critical lifts,” it is prudent to have a formal lift plan prepared and approved by qualified persons to minimize the potential of a crane (stability or structural) failure. 

In order to establish a corporate mobile crane lift-planning requirement, the first step is to define the term, “critical lift.”  The Construction Safety Association of Ontario defines “critical lifts” as those lifts where the load weight is heavier than 75% of the rated capacity (Campbell and Dickie 227).  Other examples of “critical lifts” include the following:

• Lifts in congested areas where structures, pipelines, power lines, or other obstacles are located.
• Lifts that involving “turning” or “flipping” the load over where “shock loading” and/or “side loading” is likely to occur.
• Lifts that involve machinery or assemblies furnished by others or lifts where the load weight is not known.
• Lifts in areas of poor soil or unknown ground conditions.
• Lifts involving potentially unstable pieces.
• Lifts involving multiple cranes. 

Depending on the complexity of the crane lift, the formal lift plan may involve several pages (including engineering drawings of the crane and/or the load, load charts, crane matting, etc.) to a simple two-page document that provides the necessary information pertaining to the cranes configuration, accurate load and rigging information, and the crane’s rated capacity.  In addition to crane stability or structural failures, other components (such as rigging, hoist line, etc.) may also be a source of failure and their capacities should also be evaluated.  The following information should be included in the lift plan in order to determine if the lift can be safely made:

• Description of lift (including sketches).
• Crane configuration (such as counterweight used, jib stowed or erected, lifting from main hoist or jib, jib length and offset angle, maximum load radius, number of parts of load line, size of load line, boom length, boom angle at origin and at destination, boom and load clearance distance, boom point elevation, etc.).
• Rate capacity of crane (over-the-front, over-the-side, 360˚ rotation).
• Rated capacity of hoist line.
• Load weight (including empty load weight, headache ball, main block, lifting/spreader bar, slings and shackles, effective weight of the jib, weight of auxiliary line, weight of hoist line, and/or other items the crane manufacturer specifies as part of the load i.e., deductions from the rated capacity).
• Rigging capacity (including load attachments and slings).
• Percent of crane’s rated capacity (i.e., “Go/No Go”)
• Factors that may affect the crane’s rated capacity (see pre-lift checklist).

“Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.”  – Winston Churchill

Pre-lift checklist

There are many factors that affect a crane’s rated capacity.  Therefore, it is generally a good practice to use a pre-lift checklist when planning a lift and for site personnel to also use just prior to executing the lift to ensure that those conditions that may affect the crane’s rated capacity have been considered.  If a lift cannot be made under the configuration and conditions specified in the lift plan, the lift should be re-evaluated and approved by a qualified person. 

In summary, formal written lift plans should be required for all “critical lifts” as defined by your organization in order to prevent high profile incidents with the potential to cause devastating damage, injuries, and unfavorable publicity for your company.

View a printable pdf of the checklist

Click checklist to enlarge

References

Campbell, D. and D. Dickie.  Mobile Crane Manual.  Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Construction Association of Ontario, 1982.

Suruda, A., M. Egger, D. Liu.  1997.  Crane-Related Deaths in the U.S. Construction Industry, 1984-94.  The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights, (Report No. D2-97).

Yow, P., R. Rooth, and K. Fry.  “Crane Accidents 1997 – 1999: A Report of the Crane Unit of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.”  Department of Occupational Safety and health, California Department of Industrial Relations.  www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/CraneAccidentReport.html.