Trial lift and landing

The trial lift

Take the strain until the slings bear and the load just leaves the ground.
Stop there. That answers what you were otherwise assuming:

• Does the load hang level, or does it lean
• Are all legs equally taut
• Has the load rotated — and by how much
• Has anything shifted: sling, edge protection, loose parts
• Is the hook seated correctly, safety catch closed
• Is the weight what you expected from the crane’s indication

If any of that is wrong, the load goes down and is re-rigged. The trial lift is
not a formality to get past — it is the cheapest information in the whole lift.

While the load travels

Nobody under the load, nobody between the load and a fixed object, and nobody
following it with their hands. See
tag lines and the article
Nobody under the load.

The landing

The landing is planned before the lift, not while the load hangs over the spot:

• Will the ground take the load where it is going
• Are bearers ready, and correctly placed
• Can the load stand stable on its own, or must it be supported before the
  slings come off
• Is there room to draw the slings out without pulling the load over
• Where do people stand while it is set down

Freeing the slings

The slings must come out without anyone going under the load or between load and
bearers. If a sling is trapped, the load is lifted slightly again — it is never
dragged free with the crane. That is how slings are destroyed and loads toppled.