Most lifts that go wrong go wrong in the handover between two people — not in
the machine.
The roles
Lift supervisor. Holds the overview of the operation and
decides that it starts, continues and ends. On complex lifts this is a dedicated
person with that single job.
Slinger. Attaches the load. Judges sling angles, edges,
centre of gravity and whether the gear suits the load. See the
calculators and the articles on sling angles and
centre of gravity.
Signaller. Gives the operator the information he does not
have. On a blind lift the signaller is the operator’s eyes — see the
article Blind lifts.
Crane operator. Carries out the lift, and is the last person
who can say no.
One person may hold several roles on a simple lift. The point is not the
headcount but that every task has an owner who knows it is his.
Who decides
The lift supervisor decides the lift goes. But anyone can stop
it, and no justification is required in the moment — that comes
afterwards. This is not courtesy, it is how it is supposed to work. The safety
representative additionally has a specific right to stop dangerous work (§ 6-3),
and every worker has a duty to break off work he believes cannot continue without
danger (§ 2-3).
See the article Anyone can stop the lift.
Competence
The roles assume training. Which training is required for which task follows
from the regulations and the employer’s assessment — see
regulations and links for
training providers. A role you have not been trained for is something you raise
before the lift, not during it.
Settled before the start
- Who the lift supervisor is — said out loud, not assumed
- Who signals, and only that one person
- Which channel, and what applies when it goes quiet
- What the stop word is, and that it means stop whoever says it
The plan is the employer's. Under § 18-6 lifting operations must be planned and carried out properly, with the necessary organisation and competence, and that duty sits with the employer. These pages explain how a plan is built and what each element means — they are not a plan, and nothing here substitutes for an assessment made by someone competent for the specific lift. Where a figure is needed — capacity, distance, bearing pressure, wind limit — it comes from the crane's documentation, the equipment certificate or the relevant specialist, never from this site.