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SAFE WORK PROCEDURE

SWP-019

CRITICAL LIFTS

Slower brief. Named supervision. Written plan. Ego is not a control.

DOCUMENT
GOSPEL-SWP-019
REVISION
01 CURRENT
EFFECTIVE
2026-09-01
OWNER
GOSPEL Safety
APPROVED BY
GOSPEL
REVIEW
2027-09-01

PURPOSE

Run lifts that can hurt a lot of people, or a lot of plant, as critical — not as a louder version of a routine pick.

SCOPE

Loads approaching chart capacity, tandem / multiple crane, lifts over operating plant or public space, non-routine paths, shifting COG, and any lift the site or this program calls critical.

This document is the method — the steps. Hazards, consequence and residual risk for the same work are in the JHA library. A procedure is not a hazard analysis. A hazard analysis is not a procedure.

PROCEDURE

  1. 01

    DECLARE IT

    Why it is critical — said in the brief, written on the plan.

  2. 02

    PLAN

    Sequence, weights, radii, rigging, holds, abort, rescue. At the lift.

  3. 03

    PEOPLE

    Operator, rigger, signal, supervisor, engineer if required. Named.

  4. 04

    MEETING

    Everyone repeats the plan, the signals, who stops it. If they cannot, the brief failed.

  5. 05

    EXECUTE HOLDS

    Do not skip a hold because the crane is waiting.

  6. 06

    ABORT

    Any unmet condition: stop. Rewrite. Do not “adapt on the fly.”

RESPONSIBILITIES

This program

The published method for the work. Stop-work is named in it. It does not own the site.

Supervisor

Confirms the plan, the crew, the zone and the stop criteria. Owns whether the hook moves.

Crane operator

Runs only the machine they are competent on, to the chart, after inspection. Stops on an unclear signal or a broken plan.

Rigger

Selects, inspects and applies the hitch. Does not guess weight, centre of gravity or angle.

Signalperson

One set of hands on the crane. Holds the zone. STOP means stop.

Worker

Works to this program and to site rules — whichever is stricter. Uses the three rights. Reports damaged gear.

REQUIRED COMPETENCY

  • Named supervisor
  • Crew that can repeat the abort
  • Engineer when required

EQUIPMENT

  • GOSPEL-FRM-007
  • Radios
  • The crane and rigging in the plan

PPE

  • Hard hat
  • CSA-grade footwear
  • High-visibility clothing
  • Eye protection
  • Task-rated gloves
  • Hearing protection where required
  • Fall protection where the work exposes a fall

PROHIBITED PRACTICES

  • Calling it critical and then running it like a grocery pick
  • Tandem lifts without a plan and a single lead

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Stop the lift. Make people safe. Land or hold the load if it can be done without a second incident. First aid. Notify the site and the employer. Hold the scene.

DOCUMENTATION

  • GOSPEL-FRM-007
  • GOSPEL-FRM-009
  • SJP if required
  • Flytables: GOSPEL-SWP-028 and GOSPEL-SJP-001
  • Loading platforms: GOSPEL-SWP-030 and GOSPEL-SJP-003

REFERENCES

  • Workers Compensation Act s. 21 — known or reasonably foreseeable hazards; instruction and supervision
  • OHS Regulation (B.C. Reg. 296/97, in force 15 Apr 1998) Part 3 — OHS program, instruction, inspections
  • OHS Regulation Part 4 s. 4.13 — risk assessment where rescue or evacuation may arise
  • OHS Regulation Part 8 — PPE; headwear CSA Z94.1-05 or Z94.1-15
  • OHS Regulation Part 11 — fall protection
  • OHS Regulation Part 14 — Cranes and Hoists
  • 14.2(5) — CSA Z150-1998, or ASME B30.5-2004, or ASME B30.22-2005 (articulating boom)
  • 14.2(6) — CSA Z248-2004 for tower, hammerhead and self-erecting tower cranes
  • 14.35 pre-use inspection · 14.36 load weight · 14.42.1 critical lift · 14.44 loads over work areas · 14.45 unattended loads · 14.47–14.49 signals
  • OHS Regulation Part 15 — Rigging
  • Manufacturer load chart, manual and configuration limits
  • Site lift plan, FLHA and site rules where stricter

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