Signals, communication, and jobsite coordination
Signals, communication, and jobsite coordination tests the human link in the lift: who signals, how the signal is transmitted, and how the crew stops the job when anything changes.
Signal rules
Use one designated signal person who is qualified and positioned to see the load, the landing area, and the operator. Hand signals follow the standard set; radio or voice signals must be clear, tested, and dedicated to the lift. Anyone may give an emergency stop signal. If the signal is lost, the operator stops. A signal person must not direct a load they cannot see unless a relay is established.
Coordination
Hold a pre-lift meeting with the operator, rigger, signal person, and affected trades. Establish the load path, exclusion zone, tag-line plan, and landing sequence. Coordinate with pedestrians, traffic, and adjacent operations. In NYC, sidewalk sheds, barricades, and street closures are part of the lift plan, not afterthoughts.
Worked example
A crane must set a load behind a building where the operator cannot see the landing zone. The signal person stands at the landing area with a dedicated radio and confirms the load path is clear. The operator repeats the command and moves only on the signal person's direction. If radio contact drops, the operator stops and holds the load; the signal person re-establishes contact or switches to hand signals visible to the operator. The lift does not continue on guesswork.
Traps
Allowing two signal persons to direct the same lift; assuming a radio is better than a hand signal when the operator can see; forgetting that any worker can stop the job; not agreeing on signal meanings before the lift; letting a rigger signal a load they cannot see.