Most lifts are routine. A few are not: two cranes on one load, people on the hook, a crane traveling with a load, or a pick right at the edge of the chart. These are the topics experienced operators debate most, and each one has rules and planning steps that set it apart.
Multi-crane (tandem) lifts
When one crane can't handle a load, or a long piece needs to be turned or set at both ends, two cranes share it. The difficulty is that the load's weight doesn't stay split evenly. If one crane hoists faster, or the load tilts, more weight shifts onto one hook, sometimes well past its share.
OSHA treats these lifts separately. Under 29 CFR 1926.1432, a multiple-crane lift requires a plan developed by a qualified person, and the plan must be reviewed with everyone involved before the lift. Good plans spell out each crane's share of the load at every stage, the travel and swing allowed, one designated signal person, and what happens if something goes wrong halfway.
Operators doing tandem work need patience more than speed. Small, coordinated movements and steady communication keep both cranes within their charts.
Hoisting personnel
Lifting people with a crane is restricted for a reason. Subpart CC (1926.1431) allows it only when conventional means of reaching the work area, like ladders, stairs or scaffolds, would be more hazardous or are not possible because of the structure or site conditions. When it is allowed, the rule adds requirements on top of normal operation, including a personnel platform built for the purpose, a reduced capacity limit, trial lifts, a pre-lift meeting and specific inspections.
For the operator, personnel lifts mean slower, smoother control and a strict refusal to multitask. There's no such thing as a quick personnel lift.
Pick-and-carry
Some cranes, particularly rough-terrain and crawler cranes, can travel with a suspended load when the manufacturer allows it. The load chart for pick-and-carry is separate from the stationary chart, usually with far lower capacities, and often specifies boom position, travel speed and ground conditions. Tire pressure on rubber-tired cranes and level, firm travel paths matter a great deal.
The load must be kept low and tag lines used to control swing. The biggest mistake is assuming the stationary chart applies while moving. It doesn't.
Lifts near the limits of the chart
A lift at 90 percent of net capacity is not twice as hard as one at 45 percent; it leaves far less room for the things nobody measured. Many companies define a critical lift by a percentage of chart capacity and require a written lift plan above it. Common contents include:
- A verified load weight, not an estimate from a delivery ticket.
- Exact crane configuration and the chart used.
- All deductions listed and totaled.
- Ground bearing check under outrigger pads or tracks.
- Wind limits and a weather go/no-go decision point.
- Rigging selected for the load, with sling angles accounted for.
Learning these skills the right way
These techniques build on fundamentals. Someone who can't read a chart and control a load smoothly is not ready for tandem work or personnel hoisting. Our courses focus on the fundamentals that every specialized lift depends on: set-up, load chart calculations, controlled operation and communication. For crawler cranes, where pick-and-carry and heavy lifts are common, Mobile Crane Operations Lattice 40 Hours covers configuration and charts. Riggers and signal persons, who carry much of the planning on these lifts, can train through Rigger/Signal Person Certification Level I 28 Hours.
Questions about specialized lifts
Does OSHA require a written plan for a two-crane lift?
OSHA 1926.1432 requires a plan developed by a qualified person for multiple-crane lifts, reviewed with everyone involved before the lift begins.
Can any crane do pick-and-carry?
Only if the manufacturer allows it and provides a pick-and-carry chart. Never use the stationary chart for a crane traveling with a load.
What makes a lift critical?
There's no single federal definition. Many employers set their own threshold, often a percentage of rated capacity, plus lifts involving personnel, multiple cranes or high-value loads.
