A pre-engineered lift is one that is common to production. Lifts made where the load weight is greater than 75 percent of the rated capacity of the crane, lifts where the load moves out of the operator’s view and tandem lifts are all examples of critical lifts. A critical lift is a non-routine crane lift that requires detailed planning and additional or unusual safety precautions. Ordinary lifts are routine lifts that require only rigging basics and minimal safety precautions.
Rigging plans are categorized as ordinary, critical and pre-engineered lifts. The lift plan should identify hazards, safety precautions, maximum capacities, machine position, environmental conditions and other risks. In construction, crane operators develop a rigging plan with every lift. “Nothing would seem to be as critical as a crane on a jobsite, cranes seem to have the highest visibility and a missed step in lift preparation can make for trouble,” says Pat Collins, Director of Product Marketing, Link-Belt Cranes. If you don’t develop a detailed and accurate earthworks plan, you may be over schedule and over budget, but if you don’t develop a detailed and accurate lift plan, the consequences can be catastrophic.
It is more important to develop and execute a detailed and accurate lift plan than just about any other construction application. Developing a rigging plan is crucial for safe and productive lifting.
