Lesson 1Ground and foundation checks: crane base, pad conditions, temporary roadways, surface bearing capacity and ground water/drainage issuesIn this lesson, you'll learn to evaluate crane foundations, pads, and access roads, confirm bearing capacity against 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'll discover how to inspect and test communication tools, such as radios, batteries, chargers, spare units, and fixed signage, plus how to set up clear backup hand signal protocols to keep control if primary systems fail during a lift.
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 part outlines how to monitor wind speed and direction, interpret gust forecasts, evaluate visibility, rain, snow, and icing, and use manufacturer and regulatory limits to determine when to limit or halt crane operations for weather 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'll gain knowledge of inspection criteria for wire ropes, hoist ropes, and hooks, covering checks for broken wires, corrosion, kinks, deformation, throat opening, latch function, lubrication quality, and identifying end-of-life conditions that require 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 functional checks of tower crane structures, including mast sections, ties, slewing ring, jib, counterjib, and counterweights, searching for cracks, loose fasteners, corrosion, deformation, and odd 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'll learn to survey the crane work area for overhead power lines, nearby buildings, traffic routes, and public exposure, then set up exclusion zones, barricades, and spotters to manage pedestrian and vehicle movement around lifting operations.
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 covers how to read and apply tower crane load charts, including capacities by radius and configuration, impacts of jib length and counterweights, dynamic loading factors, derating for attachments, and using charts to plan safe 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 confirming operator, rigger, and signaler qualifications, reviewing necessary certifications, documenting daily fit-for-duty status, and running structured pre-shift briefings that align 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 test safety devices and limit switches, including overload protection, anti-two-block, boom angle and radius indicators, wind alarms, and emergency stop circuits, ensuring they operate properly before any lifting starts.
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
