Crane Operation
Control the load, not just the lever
Operation starts with a pre-lift meeting: confirm load weight, rigging, radius, chart, signal person, travel path, and environmental limits. Keep the hoist line vertical; side loading, dragging, and shock loading can collapse a boom or tip a crane. Watch boom deflection, which increases radius and reduces capacity. Use taglines where practical. Never two-block; the anti-two-block device is a backup, not an operating tool. Telescoping or booming with a load changes radius and capacity, so follow the manufacturer's chart and procedure. Wind, icy conditions, and poor visibility are stop-and-reassess triggers.
Traps
Pick-and-carry and travel with a load are charted operations with low capacities and specific boom positions. Free swing can let the load run away; know when to use the swing brake or lock. Multiple-crane lifts require a plan and a lift director. Personnel lifting requires an approved platform and chart. The biggest trap is assuming capacity stays constant while booming down or telescoping out.
Rule of thumb
If the hoist line is not plumb, stop and correct the radius rather than "helping" the load with the boom. A side-loaded boom is a structural hazard, not a rigging shortcut.