Roles and Responsibilities in the Lifting Team
A lifting operation is a team activity with clearly separated duties. The appointed person (often called the lift planner) has overall responsibility for planning the lift, selecting the crane and equipment, producing the lift plan and method statement, and ensuring adequate supervision and rescue arrangements. The crane/lifting supervisor controls the operation on site, briefs the team, controls the area and stops the job when conditions change. The crane operator is responsible for operating within the plan, the load chart and signals received, and for refusing unsafe lifts. The slinger selects and attaches slings, determines the rigging arrangement, checks the load's weight and centre of gravity, and controls the load during the lift. The signaller (banksman) relays instructions between the slinger and operator, keeps the public and other workers clear, and must be clearly identifiable. One person may hold more than one role only where this is safe and permitted by the plan; the operator should never be the sole signaller for a blind lift.
Traps: questions that imply the slinger 'plans' the lift (planning belongs to the appointed person), that the operator can overrule the lift plan on a whim, or that anyone can signal. Signallers must be competent, use agreed signals, and have a clear view or reliable communication. Also watch for 'who stops the job?' - anyone can and must stop a lift they believe is unsafe; stopping is never a disciplinary matter when done in good faith.
Rule of thumb: plan it (appointed person), control it (supervisor), rig it (slinger), signal it (signaller), operate it (operator) - and anyone can stop it.