All Crane Load Charts: The Importance of Accurate Planning

When it comes to lifting heavy loads with cranes, accuracy and careful planning are crucial to ensure a safe and successful operation. A well-planned lift can prevent accidents, injuries, and costly damages, while inadequate planning can have devastating consequences. In this article, we will explore the importance of accurate planning when it comes to crane load charts.

At its core, a lift plan should include essential information that helps determine whether a lift can be safely made. This includes evaluating potential sources of failure, such as the crane's stability, structure, and components (rigging, hoist line, etc.). Depending on the complexity of the lift, the formal lift plan can range in size from two pages to several pages.

In addition to general information about the crane's configuration, load, and rigging, a comprehensive lift plan should also consider factors such as:

* Lifts that involve potentially unstable pieces

* Lifts in areas with poor soil or unknown ground conditions

* Lifts where the load weight is not known

* Lifts that require machinery or assemblies furnished by others

* Lifts that involve turning or flipping the load, which can result in 'shock loading' or 'side loading'

* Lifts in congested areas with structures, pipelines, power lines, or other obstacles

According to the Construction Safety Association of Ontario, a critical lift is one where the load weight is heavier than 75 percent of the rated capacity. However, even non-critical lifts require careful planning and consideration of various factors to ensure a safe operation.

To prevent mobile crane incidents, it is essential to establish criteria for 'critical lifts,' prepare formal lift plans, understand the factors that affect the rated capacities of mobile cranes, ensure equipment is in good condition, and ensure only qualified and trained personnel operate the equipment.

In conclusion, all crane lifts require some level of planning, regardless of the load size. Accurate planning is critical to ensuring a safe and successful operation, and failure to plan can have severe consequences. As the old adage goes, 'people do not plan to fail, they fail to plan.' By prioritizing accurate planning when it comes to crane load charts, we can prevent accidents, injuries, and costly damages.

Allcrane load charts