Site and Lift Planning
Lift planning begins before the crane arrives. A candidate must know how to read a site plan for ground conditions, overhead and underground utilities, access routes, and the crane's intended position relative to the load path. Understand the difference between a lift plan (documented for critical or complex lifts) and routine planning, and know what makes a lift critical: near capacity, multiple cranes, personnel in the load path, hazardous materials, or unusual configuration.
Key concepts include determining total load (load weight plus rigging plus any attachments), verifying ground bearing pressure against crane outrigger or track reactions, identifying exclusion zones, and confirming that the swing radius is barricaded. Know that ground preparation-matting, crane mats, or engineered fill-is driven by the manufacturer's bearing pressure data, not guesswork.
Traps in questions: confusing capacity with ground bearing; forgetting to add rigging weight to the load; assuming a level site is a stable site; and overlooking that utility clearance applies to the boom and load, not just the carrier. Another common trap is treating a lift as routine when a personnel-occupied platform or a tandem lift makes it critical.
Rule of thumb: compute total load first, then check the load chart at the actual radius and configuration, then verify ground pressure-in that order. If any step fails, stop and re-plan rather than adjusting one factor in isolation.
Worked example: a 4,000 lb load with 500 lb of rigging at a 40 ft radius. Total load is 4,500 lb. The chart must show at least 4,500 lb capacity at 40 ft for the boom length and configuration in use-plus any deductions for jib or auxiliary head.