Crane Lift Plan
A documented plan for a crane lift specifying the load weight, [[concept-rigging|rigging]] configuration, the crane's rated capacity at the lift's actual radius, ground conditions, and the exclusion zone around the lift, required for critical or complex lifts where the margin for error is small.
Why it matters
A crane's lifting capacity isn't a single number; it changes with boom angle, radius, and ground conditions, and a lift that looks routine can exceed the crane's actual rated capacity at that specific configuration. A documented lift plan forces those numbers to be checked in advance rather than estimated in the moment.
On a real project
Before lifting a heavy precast panel, the crew calculates the crane's rated capacity at the specific radius the lift requires, confirms it exceeds the load weight with an adequate margin, and marks an exclusion zone so no one is working underneath the load path.
Who this matters most to
An Equipment Operator operating the crane follows the lift plan's specified configuration exactly, since deviating from it, a different angle, a different radius, can put the lift outside the crane's verified capacity. A Safety Manager reviews and approves lift plans for higher-risk or critical lifts before they happen.
Where this goes wrong
A crew proceeds with a lift at a slightly wider radius than the approved lift plan specified, assuming the difference is negligible. The wider radius reduces the crane's actual rated capacity below the load's weight, a mismatch the original lift plan's calculations would have caught immediately.