How to Write a Lift Plan for a Crane Lift on Site

Why a lift plan isn't optional

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), every crane lift on a construction site must be properly planned by a competent person, carried out by competent people, and supervised appropriately. That isn't guidance — it's law. If something goes wrong during an unplanned or poorly planned lift, the consequences fall squarely on the person who authorised it.

Despite that, lift plans are one of the most commonly rushed documents on site. They get scrawled on the back of a delivery note, or worse, skipped entirely because the lift looks straightforward. No lift is straightforward once a load is swinging three storeys up.

This article walks you through exactly what a crane lift plan needs to include, who needs to produce and sign it, and how to get it done properly without it taking half your day.

Who writes a lift plan?

The lift plan must be produced by an Appointed Person — someone with the specific training, knowledge and experience to plan lifting operations. This is a defined role, distinct from the crane operator (the slinger/signaller) and the site manager. On smaller jobs the Appointed Person is often provided by the crane hire company, but that should be agreed before the crane arrives on site, not on the morning of the lift.

The site supervisor or foreman still needs to understand the plan, brief the crew on it, and keep a copy on site for the duration of the lifting operation.

What a crane lift plan must include

There is no single prescribed form, but a compliant lift plan should cover all of the following:

1. Job and site information

• Project name and site address
• Date and expected duration of the lift
• Name of the Appointed Person and crane operator
• Emergency contact details

2. The crane

• Make, model and Safe Working Load (SWL)
• Configuration being used (e.g. boom length, counterweight)
• Current thorough examination certificate reference (must be in date)
• Outrigger positions and ground bearing pressure requirements

3. The load

• Description of what is being lifted
• Gross weight including all lifting accessories (slings, shackles, spreader beams)
• Centre of gravity — particularly important for awkward or unbalanced loads
• Attachment points and method of slinging

A common mistake is stating the weight of the load but forgetting to add the rigging gear. Depending on the lift, that can add hundreds of kilograms and push the crane into a higher load percentage than planned.

4. Ground conditions

This is where many plans fall short. The ground beneath each outrigger pad must be capable of bearing the point load the crane will impose. You need to know:

• Ground bearing capacity (kN/m² or tonnes per square metre)
• Whether there are any underground voids, services, basements or recently backfilled trenches in the area
• Whether crane mats or spreader plates are required

If you don't know the ground bearing capacity, find out before the crane turns up. A crane overturning due to ground failure is one of the most catastrophic events on a construction site.

5. The lift itself

• Pick point and set-down point, ideally shown on a site plan or sketch
• Maximum radius during the lift
• Load percentage at that radius (most Appointed Persons aim for no more than 75–80% of SWL as a safe working margin)
• Sequence if there are multiple lifts
• Proximity to overhead power lines, structures or other cranes

6. Exclusion zones and people

Define clearly who is allowed within the lifting area and who controls access. The area beneath a suspended load must be kept clear of all personnel who are not directly involved in the lift. This needs to be communicated at the pre-lift briefing, not assumed.

• Exclusion zone radius and how it will be enforced (barriers, banksmen, radios)
• How the public or other trades nearby will be protected
• Means of communication between operator and slinger/signaller

7. Weather limitations

State the maximum wind speed at which the lift will proceed. Most crane manufacturers specify a limit in their load charts — typically 45–55 km/h depending on the configuration and load profile. Note who is responsible for monitoring wind conditions and how the lift will be called off if limits are exceeded.

8. Emergency arrangements

• What happens if the load becomes snagged or the crane develops a fault mid-lift
• First aid provision on site
• Nearest A&E and access route for emergency services

The pre-lift briefing

Writing the plan is only half the job. Before the crane hook goes anywhere near the load, everyone involved in the lift — operator, slinger, banksman, and any supervisors — must be briefed on the plan. This should be documented with signatures. It takes ten minutes and provides clear evidence that the plan was communicated, not just filed.

Cover: the load weight and slinging method, the pick and set-down points, the exclusion zone, the communication signals to be used, weather limits, and what to do if something goes wrong.

Keeping lift plans on site

Retain all lift plans as part of your site safety file. If the HSE visits or an incident occurs, you will need to produce them. File them alongside the crane's thorough examination certificate and the risk assessment for the lifting operation.

For recurring lifts of the same load in the same configuration, you can use a standing lift plan — but review it if anything changes: different ground, different radius, different rigging.

Getting the paperwork done faster

The lift plan itself requires specialist input from the Appointed Person, but the surrounding safety documentation — the risk assessment for the lifting operation, the method statement, the pre-lift briefing record — can be generated quickly from site information. Safety Parrot lets you photograph site conditions and turn them into structured safety documents in seconds, which is useful when you need to get the supporting paperwork in order before a crane arrives on a tight programme.

Quick checklist

1. Appointed Person identified and engaged in advance
2. Crane certificate of thorough examination in date
3. Load weight confirmed including all lifting accessories
4. Ground bearing capacity verified, crane mats specified if needed
5. Pick point, set-down point and maximum radius shown on plan
6. Load percentage calculated and within safe limits
7. Exclusion zone defined and method of control agreed
8. Weather limit stated and monitoring assigned
9. Pre-lift briefing carried out and signed off
10. Plan retained in site safety file

A well-written lift plan doesn't slow a job down — it makes sure the lift actually goes to plan.