Lesson 1Ground and foundation checks: crane base, pad conditions, temporary roadways, surface bearing capacity and ground water/drainage issuesHere you will learn how to assess crane foundations, pads, and access roads, verify bearing capacity against expected loads, identify soft spots, voids, or erosion, and evaluate drainage or groundwater conditions that could undermine stability during operations on Gambian terrain.
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 how to inspect and test communication tools, including radios, batteries, chargers, spare units, and fixed signage, and how to establish clear backup hand signal protocols to maintain control if primary systems fail during lifting in busy Gambian sites.
Inspecting radios, headsets, and chargersTesting radio range and audio clarityManaging batteries and spare handheld unitsVerifying posted crane and site signageStandardizing 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 details how to monitor wind speed and direction, interpret gust forecasts, assess visibility, rain, snow, and icing, and apply manufacturer and regulatory limits to decide when to restrict or suspend crane operations for weather safety in Gambia's variable climate.
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 learn inspection criteria for wire ropes, hoist ropes, and hooks, including checking for broken wires, corrosion, kinks, deformation, throat opening, latch function, lubrication quality, and recognizing end-of-life conditions requiring removal from service in humid Gambian conditions.
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 covers visual and functional checks of tower crane structures, including mast sections, ties, slewing ring, jib, counterjib, and counterweights, looking for cracks, loose fasteners, corrosion, deformation, and unusual noises or movement in local weather.
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 survey the crane work area for overhead power lines, nearby buildings, traffic routes, and public exposure, then establish exclusion zones, barricades, and spotters to control pedestrian and vehicle movement around lifting operations in urban Gambian areas.
Locating and marking overhead power linesAssessing clearances to buildings and roofsEvaluating risks to streets and sidewalksPlanning 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 explains how to read and apply tower crane load charts, including capacities by radius and configuration, effects of jib length and counterweights, dynamic loading factors, derating for attachments, and using charts to plan safe lifting operations for Gambian projects.
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 covers confirming operator, rigger, and signaler qualifications, reviewing required certifications, documenting daily fit-for-duty status, and conducting structured pre-shift briefings that align the crew on tasks, hazards, and communication in Gambian teams.
Verifying operator licenses 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 explains how to check safety devices and limit switches, including overload protection, anti-two-block, boom angle and radius indicators, wind alarms, and emergency stop circuits, ensuring they function correctly before any lifting begins on site.
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
