Lesson 1Ground and foundation checks: crane base, pad conditions, temporary roadways, surface bearing capacity and ground water/drainage issuesIn this lesson, you'll discover how to examine crane bases, foundations, and access paths, confirm load-bearing strength against planned weights, spot weak areas, holes, or soil erosion, and assess water flow or underground water that might affect steadiness during work.
Reviewing soil engineering and load dataChecking crane base, fixings, and foundationsEvaluating temporary roads and entry pathsSpotting soft soil, holes, and wearing awayAssessing water flow and underground water impactsNoting and reporting soil problemsLesson 2Communication equipment checks: radio testing, battery management, spare handhelds, signage and backup hand signal protocolsYou'll find out how to check and test communication devices like radios, batteries, chargers, extra units, and fixed signs, plus set up reliable backup hand signals to keep things under control if main systems fail during lifts.
Checking radios, headsets, and chargersTesting radio reach and sound qualityHandling batteries and extra portable unitsConfirming posted crane and site signsStandardising hand and arm signalsPlanning for communication breakdownsLesson 3Weather assessment procedures: wind monitoring, gust forecasting, visibility checks, rain/icing effects and when to suspend lifting operationsThis part outlines how to track wind speed and direction, understand gust predictions, check visibility, rain, snow, and ice buildup, and use maker guidelines and rules to decide when to limit or halt crane work for weather safety on Zambian sites.
Using wind gauges and indicatorsReviewing weather predictions and gust patternsAssessing visibility, mist, and night lightsEvaluating rain, snow, and ice effectsApplying wind and weather work limitsSteps to halt and restart liftingLesson 4Wire ropes, hoist ropes and hooks: inspection criteria, wear limits, lubrication and end-of-life signsYou'll learn checking standards for wire ropes, lifting ropes, and hooks, including looking for broken strands, rust, twists, bends, hook mouth widening, catch mechanism, grease quality, and spotting end-of-use signs that mean removal from service.
Spotting broken strands and rope harmMeasuring rope thickness and stretchingFinding rust, twists, and cagingChecking hooks for breaks and bendsConfirming hook catch presence and workGreasing methods and removal standardsLesson 5Tower crane structural checks: mast, slewing ring, jib, counterweights, corrosion and deformation indicatorsThis part covers sight and function tests of tower crane parts, including mast pieces, supports, turning ring, arm, counter arm, and weights, searching for cracks, loose bolts, rust, bending, and odd sounds or shifts.
Examining mast pieces and jointsChecking supports, fixings, and bracesLooking at turning ring and bolt tightnessInspecting arm, counter arm, and supportsVerifying weight condition and fitSpotting rust, cracks, and warpingLesson 6Work area assessment: locating overhead power lines, adjoining buildings, public street risks, pedestrian routes and exclusion zonesHere you'll learn to survey the crane area for overhead wires, nearby structures, traffic paths, and public risks, then set up no-go areas, barriers, and watchers to manage people and vehicles around lifting tasks.
Finding and marking overhead power linesAssessing gaps to buildings and roofsEvaluating dangers to roads and pathsPlanning load routes and swing areasSetting barriers and no-go zonesWorking with site security and trafficLesson 7Load chart interpretation: ratings by radius, configuration limits, dynamic factors and derating for attachmentsThis part shows how to read and use tower crane load tables, including capacities by distance and setup, impacts of arm length and weights, movement load factors, reductions for extras, and using tables to plan safe lifts.
Understanding table layout and termsCapacity shifts with distance and heightArm length and setup effectsAccounting for wind and movement factorsReducing for hooks, pulleys, and ropesChecking planned lifts against tablesLesson 8Crew competency and role verification: verifying riggers, signalers and operator certifications and pre-shift briefing checklistThis part covers confirming operator, rigger, and signaler skills, checking needed papers, noting daily fitness, and running planned pre-shift talks to align the team on jobs, risks, and talking methods.
Confirming operator licences and approvalsChecking rigger and signal skillsVerifying health fitness and tirednessReviewing site-specific training needsRunning planned pre-shift talksRecording team checksLesson 9Safety devices and limit switches: function checks for overload, anti-two-block, boom angle/radius, wind speed indicators and emergency stop systemsThis part explains testing safety tools and limit switches, including overload guards, anti-two-block, arm angle and distance shows, wind alerts, and stop circuits, making sure they work right before lifting starts.
Testing overload and moment limitsConfirming anti-two-block workChecking arm angle and distance showsInspecting wind speed alerts and stopsTesting stop buttons and circuitsRecording safety tool test outcomes
