Categories and Roles
Matching the level of planning to the complexity of the lift.
12 min
Every lifting operation must be planned by a competent person, but the depth of planning should reflect the risk.
| Category | Examples | Planning |
|---|---|---|
| Routine / repetitive | Same load, same place, standard rigging | Generic plan, reviewed periodically |
| Standard | Straightforward lift within crane capacity, clear area | Documented plan for the task |
| Complex | Tandem lifts, blind lifts, lifts over live plant or people, near capacity, unusual centre of gravity, lifts from or to a vessel | Detailed engineered plan, often with independent review |
The roles
- Appointed person — plans the lift, selects equipment, and is accountable for the plan.
- Lift supervisor — controls the operation on the day and can stop it.
- Crane operator — operates within the plan and refuses anything outside it.
- Slinger / rigger — attaches and detaches the load, selects and inspects the accessories.
- Signaller / banksman — directs the operator; one signaller only, clearly identified.
The operator always has the right to refuse a lift they consider unsafe, and that right needs to be as real in practice as it is on paper.