Communication, Signalling, Teamwork and Exclusion Zone Management
The lifting team is a system: operator, dogger, rigger, spotter and supervisor each need clear roles and one agreed communication method. Before the lift there should be a pre-lift briefing covering the load, weight, path, landing point, signals, exclusion zones and emergency stop arrangements. Standard hand signals, whistle signals or two-way radio may be used, but there must be exactly one designated signaller at a time - multiple signallers giving conflicting directions is a classic cause of incidents. The operator must obey a stop signal from anyone, and should stop if a signal is unclear.
Exclusion zones protect people from dropped loads, tail swing, slewing counterweight and the swing radius of the load. Zones should be physically marked (barriers, hoarding, tape) and enforced, not just signed. The area under a suspended load is always out of bounds. Where the crane oversails public areas or adjacent property, additional controls such as luffing jib, slew limits, zoning systems or agreed time windows may apply. Teamwork includes the dogger's authority to stop the lift, the rigger's responsibility to confirm the load is secure, and the operator's responsibility to confirm the load, the signal and the path before moving.
Traps: assuming radio contact replaces a pre-lift briefing; accepting a signal from an unidentified person; letting a 'helpful' bystander guide the load; and believing a sign alone creates an exclusion zone.
Rule of thumb: one lift, one signaller, one plan - and anyone can stop the job.