The photograph shows four mobile-crane counterweight slabs being handled together using round slings. The round slings appear to be crossed between the counterweight lifting points. A comment accompanying the photograph states that the lifting lugs were intended for no more than two counterweights at a time. This creates an important lesson: counterweights may look simple to handle, but they must be lifted exactly in accordance with the crane manufacturer’s specified procedure. What Went Wrong - Four counterweights were being handled in one lift. - The round slings were crossed and bearing against each other. - The lifting points may have been subjected to forces/configurations they were not designed for. - The sling arrangement could introduce poor load sharing, local pressure and instability. - The manufacturer’s permitted lifting arrangement may not have been followed. Why Crossing Round Slings Is a Problem Round slings should not simply be crossed or twisted to make an improvised lifting arrangement. This can cause: - Sling-to-sling contact and friction. - Localised compression. - Unequal loading. - Poor load control. - Damage to the sling cover and potentially the load-bearing fibres. - A configuration that may not correspond with the sling manufacturer’s rated method of use. If the required configuration isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s instructions or lift plan, don’t improvise it. Key Lessons Learned Counterweights are lifting loads in their own right. Before lifting them, confirm: - Manufacturer’s lifting instructions. - Maximum number permitted per lift. - Correct lifting points. - Correct lifting accessories and configuration. - Individual and combined weight. - WLL of the lifting system. If the manufacturer specifies maximum two counterweights, then four should not be lifted simply to save crane time. Safety Recommendations - Follow the crane manufacturer’s counterweight handling procedure. - Do not exceed the permitted number of slabs per lift. - Never improvise by crossing or twisting round slings. - Check sling WLL, configuration and condition. - Inspect the counterweight lifting points. - Keep personnel outside the drop zone. - If the correct lifting arrangement is uncertain,STOP and verify it before lifting.

A tower crane was moving a load behind a structure where the crane operator could no longer see either the load or landing area. The Slinger/Signaller was directing the operation by radio. Halfway through the movement, the radio transmission became intermittent. The operator heard: “Slew left slowly… keep…” Then silence. Instead of immediately stopping, the crane continued moving for several seconds because the operator assumed the slinger wanted the movement to continue. The load approached the structure before the operation was stopped. What Went Wrong - Communication was lost during a blind movement. - The operator continued based on an assumption. - No effective lost-communication procedure was followed. - Radio condition/coverage may not have been adequately checked. - The load was moving where the operator could not independently verify clearance. Key Lessons Learned During a blind lift, the radio can effectively become the operator’s eyes on the ground. If those instructions disappear, the operator should not guess what the next instruction would have been. The agreed principle should be simple: NO COMMUNICATION = NO MOVEMENT. The exception is any movement specifically required by an established emergency procedure to make the situation safe. Safety Recommendations - Test radios before starting. - Check communication from the actual lifting and landing positions. - Agree a lost-communication procedure. - Use clear crane and signaller call signs. - Stop movement when communication is lost or unclear. - Restore positive communication before restarting. - Consider suitable backup communication arrangements for critical blind lifts. Regulatory Mapping ● LOLER Reg. 8 – Lifting operations must be properly planned, supervised and safely carried out. ● PUWER Reg. 9 – Adequate information, instruction and training. ● BS 7121 principles – Effective communication and signalling throughout crane operations. Key Point Never think: “He probably meant keep going.”

During a blind tower crane lift, one Slinger/Signaller was controlling the load using commands by radio. As the load approached the landing area, a second slinger saw that it was getting close to an obstruction and started giving the operator instructions at the same time. The operator suddenly received: Slinger 1: “Slew right slowly.” Slinger 2: “Stop. come left!” For several seconds, the operator did not know whose instruction had priority. The operation was stopped before contact occurred. What Went Wrong - Two people attempted to control the same crane movement. - No clearly identified lead signaller. - Conflicting radio instructions were transmitted. - The operator was forced to decide which instruction to follow. - The communication arrangement had not been properly briefed. Key Lessons Learned For a crane movement, the operator should normally be receiving directions from one designated Slinger/Signaller at a time. If control needs to transfer between signallers during a blind lift, the handover must be positive and understood. For example: Slinger 1: “TC1, stop. Slinger 2 will now take control.” Operator: “TC1 stopped. Slinger 2 taking control confirmed.” Only then should the next movement begin. Emergency STOP instructions are different, a stop warning must never be ignored simply because it came from someone else. Safety Recommendations - Nominate the controlling Slinger/Signaller. - Agree call signs before lifting. - Use positive radio handovers. - Never give competing crane instructions. - Keep radio channels clear. - If instructions conflict. STOP. - Re-establish who has control before continuing. Regulatory Mapping ● LOLER Reg. 8 – Proper planning, supervision and safe execution. ● PUWER Reg. 9 – Adequate training and instruction. ● BS 7121 principles – Clear signalling and communication during lifting operations. Key Point Two voices should never fight for control of one crane. One operator. One movement. One clearly identified signaller.

A tower crane was carrying out lifting operations while a mobile concrete pump was operating within or close to the crane’s working area. The concrete pump is not a fixed object. Its boom can slew, raise, lower and reposition, while the vehicle itself may also need to move. If the pump operator is concentrating only on the concrete pour and the lifting team is concentrating only on the crane, the two operations can quickly conflict. What Are the Hazards? - Crane load passing above or close to the concrete pump. - Tower crane jib, hook block or lifting accessories conflicting with the pump boom. - Concrete pump boom moving unexpectedly into the crane’s operating area. - Pump operator unaware of a suspended load approaching. - Personnel working around the pump exposed to suspended loads. - Poor radio communication between the two operations. - Crane and pump movements occurring simultaneously. - Concrete delivery vehicles creating additional plant movements and blind spots. What Should Be Avoided? The pump operator should never assume the airspace above is clear simply because the concrete pour is continuing. Likewise, the lifting team should not assume: The pump will stay where it is. Where the operations could conflict, movements should be coordinated. For example: Crane requires access→ Pump movement stops→Crane load passes and clears→Positive confirmation→Pump operation resumes. No guessing. No racing each other. Coordination & Supervision Before work starts, establish: - Who controls the interface. - Crane and pump operating zones. - Restricted/no-go areas. - Communication arrangements. - What happens when the crane requires access above or near the pump. - Who has authority to call STOP. If either operator loses communication or cannot confirm the other’s position: STOP ALL MOVEMENTS. Safety Recommendations - Include the concrete pump in the lifting-operation interface assessment. - Brief the crane and concrete-pump teams together where their operations interact. - Maintain suitable exclusion zones. - Prevent suspended loads passing over personnel. - Establish clear priorities for conflicting movements. - Use agreed radio communication/signals. - Reassess the arrangement whenever the pump is repositioned. - Never rely solely on either operator seeing the other machine.

During steel erection, several individual steel beams were lifted simultaneously from one crane hook, positioned at different levels, sometimes called a “chandelier”, “Christmas tree” or multiple-member lift. As shown in the photograph, the beams are separated so the erection team can progressively connect individual members. This method can improve productivity during structural steel erection, but an important distinction is needed: Being a steel erector does not automatically make chandelier lifting acceptable in the UK. HSE requires every lifting operation to be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. Why Is It Used in Steel Erection? Steel erection is a specialist, sequential operation involving repetitive structural members and trained erection teams. HSE specifically emphasises specialist competence, planning and an erection sequence for steelwork. In jurisdictions or projects where multiple-member lifting is permitted, it typically relies on a purpose-designed multiple-lift rigging arrangement, controlled spacing and trained personnel, rather than simply hanging several ordinary loads from one hook. OSHA, for example, has detailed rules permitting this technique for beams and similar structural members under specific conditions. Why Can’t Other Trades Just Copy It? The important distinction is not the trade name, it is the engineered lifting method. A general construction team should not look at steel erectors doing this and assume: “They lifted four beams, so we can lift four separate loads.” Multiple unrelated loads can introduce: - Different centres of gravity. - Different shapes and weights. - Independent swinging or rotation. - Increased snagging/collision potential. - More complicated landing and release sequences. - Greater consequences if one component becomes unstable. The lift plan must specifically address the configuration. HSE requires the planning and controls to reflect the complexity and risk of the operation.