Set Up, Erect and Position the Hoist
Base, ties and alignment
Erection starts at the ground. The base must sit on a foundation with adequate bearing capacity, be level within the manufacturer's tolerance, drained and protected from undermining. The mast must be plumb, and every tie connected to the structure at the specified spacing, with correct bolts, torque and load path. Free-standing height limits are absolute; adding a mast section past the limit without ties is a classic exam trap.
Erection, alteration and dismantling are high-risk work for licensed riggers and doggers working to the manufacturer's instructions and an engineer's design. Barricade a drop zone around the base and the erection area, and keep people from underneath.
Landings need gates of the correct height, self-closing or interlocked, with secure access and edge protection. Electrical connection, earthing and RCD protection are done by a licensed electrician; check clearances to powerlines before the mast goes up. After erection, a competent person inspects and tests the installation before use, and the result is recorded.
Trap: questions often show a hoist tied to scaffold or to a handrail. Ties must go to a structural element designed to take the load.
Rule of thumb: before the first lift after erection, ask: is the base level and stable, is the mast plumb, is every tie to design, and is every landing gated and interlocked?