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 analyse drainage or groundwater situations that might compromise stability during crane 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 acquire knowledge on inspecting and testing communication devices, encompassing radios, batteries, chargers, backup units, and fixed signage, along with setting up reliable backup hand signal protocols to ensure command continuity should primary systems malfunction 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 segment outlines methods to track wind speed and direction, analyse gust predictions, evaluate visibility, rain, snow, and icing conditions, and implement manufacturer and regulatory guidelines to determine when to limit or halt crane activities 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 signsParticipants will master inspection standards for wire ropes, hoist ropes, and hooks, covering detection of broken wires, corrosion, kinks, deformation, throat opening, latch operations, lubrication standards, and identification of end-of-life indicators necessitating service withdrawal.
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 part addresses visual and operational inspections of tower crane components, such as mast sections, ties, slewing ring, jib, counterjib, and counterweights, seeking out cracks, loose fixings, corrosion, deformation, and atypical sounds or motions.
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 zonesLearners will gain skills to inspect the crane operational zone for overhead power lines, adjacent structures, traffic paths, and public access, subsequently defining exclusion zones, barriers, and spotters to regulate pedestrian and vehicular traffic during lifting tasks.
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 unit elucidates the process of interpreting and utilising tower crane load charts, incorporating capacity ratings by radius and setup, influences of jib length and counterweights, dynamic load considerations, attachment derating, and employing charts for secure lift planning.
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 module addresses validation of operator, rigger, and signaler competencies, examination of essential certifications, logging daily fitness-for-duty, and executing organised pre-shift briefings to synchronise the team on duties, risks, and interaction methods.
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 unit describes verification of safety devices and limit switches, encompassing overload safeguards, anti-two-block mechanisms, boom angle and radius monitors, wind alerts, and emergency stop systems, confirming their proper operation before initiating 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
