Lift Planning and Critical Lift Procedures Flashcards

Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1431, what is required before a crane can be used to hoist personnel in a personnel platform?

Answer: A trial lift with the empty platform, a proof test to 125% of the platform's rated capacity, and a pre-lift meeting with written documentation

OSHA 1926.1431 requires a trial lift with the unloaded platform, proof-loading to 125% of rated capacity, a pre-lift meeting, and continuous qualified supervision. Personnel lifts are among the most strictly regulated crane operations.

During a pre-lift risk assessment, the lift team identifies that the load must be lifted over an occupied area of the site. What risk control measure must be implemented?

Answer: All personnel must be evacuated from below the load's travel path and exclusion zones established before and during the lift

Lifting over occupied areas is prohibited unless those areas are evacuated. Exclusion zones must be established to keep all non-essential personnel out of the area directly below the load and its travel path.

What does load weight verification mean in the context of lift planning, and why is it critical?

Answer: Confirming the actual weight of the load, rigging, and all attachments before the lift to ensure the rated capacity is not exceeded

Load weight verification means accurately determining the total weight of everything that will be hoisted — the load itself, all rigging hardware, beam lifters, spreader bars, and any other attachments — to confirm the total is within the crane's rated capacity.

A lift plan requires the crane to pick a load in a wind speed not exceeding 20 mph. During the lift, the spotter reports that the wind has increased to 25 mph. What is the correct action?

Answer: Lower the load to a safe position and suspend the lift until wind speed is within the plan's limit

The lift plan established a maximum wind speed of 20 mph as a safety limit for this specific lift. Exceeding that limit means the lift must be suspended and the load safely set down until wind conditions return to within the established parameter.

What is a lift director and what is their role in a critical lift?

Answer: A qualified person designated to direct the overall planning and execution of a critical lift, coordinating all personnel and verifying compliance with the lift plan

A lift director is a qualified person designated with authority over the critical lift operation, responsible for overseeing all aspects from planning through execution, ensuring the lift plan is followed and halting operations if unsafe conditions arise.

In a lift plan, what does the term load path refer to and why must it be defined?

Answer: The complete travel route of the suspended load from its pickup point to its set-down point, used to identify hazards along the route before the lift

The load path is the spatial route the load will travel during the lift — from pick point to set point. Defining the load path allows hazards such as power lines, structures, workers, and radius changes to be identified and mitigated before the lift.