The load and the crane are the parts people remember to plan. What stands
around them is what surprises.
Power lines
Proximity to live lines requires its own assessment, and the distances are
determined by the line’s voltage and by the network owner — not by eye, and not
by this page. Electricity jumps; you do not need to touch anything. See the
article Power lines.
Other cranes
Overlapping working areas require agreed priority, agreed communication and
often an anti-collision system. The system does not replace the agreement
between operators — see the article Two cranes, one airspace.
People, traffic and third parties
- Who is under or near the load path — including people who do not work for us
- Pavements, roads, railways, neighbouring property
- Does the area need cordoning, a watchman, or other work stopped
- Are there occupied buildings under the slewing zone
Wind
The in-service and out-of-service limits are in the documentation for the
crane you are driving, and differ between machines. The plan should state what
applies to this crane, and what happens when the limit is reached — where the
load is set down, and who decides.
Remember the load’s surface area: a panel catches wind like a sail even when
it is light. See wind for current conditions, and the
article Wind: knowing when to stop.
Visibility, light and cold
Darkness, fog, drifting snow and low sun change what can be done safely. Cold
affects both equipment and people. Ice is three problems at once — see
snow and ice.
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.