Lesson 1Ground and foundation checks: crane base, pad conditions, temporary roadways, surface bearing capacity and ground water/drainage issuesIn this lesson, you will discover how to evaluate crane foundations, pads, and access roads, confirm bearing capacity relative to anticipated loads, spot soft areas, voids, or erosion, and assess drainage or groundwater conditions that might compromise stability during operations.
Reviewing geotechnical and bearing dataInspecting crane base, anchors, and padsAssessing temporary roadways and access routesIdentifying soft ground, voids, and erosionEvaluating drainage and groundwater effectsRecording and reporting ground deficienciesLesson 2Communication equipment checks: radio testing, battery management, spare handhelds, signage and backup hand signal protocolsYou will learn to examine and test communication equipment, encompassing radios, batteries, chargers, spare units, and fixed signage, along with establishing distinct backup hand signal protocols to retain control should primary systems fail during lifts.
Inspecting radios, headsets, and chargersTesting radio range and audio clarityManaging batteries and spare handheld unitsVerifying posted crane and site signageStandardising hand and arm signal setsPlanning communication failure contingenciesLesson 3Weather assessment procedures: wind monitoring, gust forecasting, visibility checks, rain/icing effects and when to suspend lifting operationsThis section outlines methods to monitor wind speed and direction, analyse gust forecasts, evaluate visibility, rain, snow, and icing, and implement manufacturer and regulatory thresholds to determine when to limit or halt crane operations for weather-related safety.
Using anemometers and wind indicatorsReviewing weather forecasts and gust trendsAssessing visibility, fog, and night lightingEvaluating rain, snow, and icing impactsApplying wind and weather operating limitsProcedures to suspend and resume liftingLesson 4Wire ropes, hoist ropes and hooks: inspection criteria, wear limits, lubrication and end-of-life signsYou will gain knowledge of inspection standards for wire ropes, hoist ropes, and hooks, covering checks for broken wires, corrosion, kinks, deformation, throat opening, latch operation, lubrication quality, and identifying end-of-life indicators necessitating removal from service.
Identifying broken wires and strand damageChecking rope diameter and elongationDetecting corrosion, kinks, and birdcagingInspecting hooks for cracks and deformationVerifying hook latch presence and functionLubrication practices and discard criteriaLesson 5Tower crane structural checks: mast, slewing ring, jib, counterweights, corrosion and deformation indicatorsThis section addresses visual and operational inspections of tower crane structures, including mast sections, ties, slewing ring, jib, counterjib, and counterweights, seeking cracks, loose fixings, corrosion, deformation, and atypical noises or movements.
Inspecting mast sections and connectionsChecking ties, anchors, and bracing systemsExamining slewing ring and bolt tightnessInspecting jib, counterjib, and pendantsVerifying counterweight condition and seatingIdentifying corrosion, cracks, and distortionLesson 6Work area assessment: locating overhead power lines, adjoining buildings, public street risks, pedestrian routes and exclusion zonesHere, you will learn to inspect the crane work area for overhead power lines, adjacent buildings, traffic paths, and public exposure, then set up exclusion zones, barriers, and spotters to manage pedestrian and vehicle traffic around lifting activities.
Locating and marking overhead power linesAssessing clearances to buildings and roofsEvaluating risks to streets and pavementsPlanning load paths and swing envelopesSetting up barriers and exclusion zonesCoordinating with site security and trafficLesson 7Load chart interpretation: ratings by radius, configuration limits, dynamic factors and derating for attachmentsThis section clarifies how to interpret and utilise tower crane load charts, covering capacities by radius and configuration, impacts of jib length and counterweights, dynamic loading factors, derating for attachments, and employing charts to organise secure lifting operations.
Understanding chart layout and terminologyCapacity changes with radius and heightEffects of jib length and configurationAccounting for wind and dynamic factorsDerating for hooks, blocks, and slingsValidating planned lifts against chartsLesson 8Crew competency and role verification: verifying riggers, signalers and operator certifications and pre-shift briefing checklistThis section involves validating operator, rigger, and signaler credentials, examining necessary certifications, recording daily fitness-for-duty status, and performing organised pre-shift briefings that synchronise the crew on tasks, hazards, and communication.
Verifying operator licences and endorsementsChecking rigger and signal person qualificationsConfirming medical fitness and fatigue statusReviewing site-specific training requirementsConducting structured pre-shift briefingsDocumenting crew verification recordsLesson 9Safety devices and limit switches: function checks for overload, anti-two-block, boom angle/radius, wind speed indicators and emergency stop systemsThis section describes how to verify safety devices and limit switches, including overload protection, anti-two-block, boom angle and radius indicators, wind alarms, and emergency stop circuits, confirming their proper operation before initiating any lifts.
Testing overload and moment limitersVerifying anti-two-block operationChecking boom angle and radius indicatorsInspecting wind speed alarms and cutoutsTesting emergency stop buttons and circuitsDocumenting safety device test results
