SAFE WORK PROCEDURE
MOBILE CRANE SETUP
Put the crane on the ground the chart requires.
- DOCUMENT
- GOSPEL-SWP-001
- REVISION
- 01 CURRENT
- EFFECTIVE
- 2026-09-01
- OWNER
- GOSPEL Safety
- APPROVED BY
- GOSPEL
- REVIEW
- 2027-09-01
PURPOSE
Set up a mobile crane so it can lift to the chart, on ground that can hold it, with a swing that will not hit people or plant.
SCOPE
Mobile cranes and boom trucks run under this program. Not tower erection. Not a substitute for the manufacturer’s setup.
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
- 01
CONFIRM THE MACHINE
Serial, configuration, counterweight, boom, jib, tyres or tracks, software — as assigned and as the chart.
- 02
WALK THE PAD
Supporting surface, excavations, cellars, backfill, underground services, slope, other cranes.
- 03
POSITION
Place the crane so the work is inside the chart and the swing does not take the counterweight through people or plant.
- 04
OUTRIGGERS AND MATS
Deploy as the chart. Mats sized for the load on the pad. Cribbing is a plan, not scrap.
- 05
LEVEL
Level within the manufacturer’s limit. Re-check after taking a test load if the ground can give.
- 06
SWING AND LINES
Boom up slowly. Confirm tail swing, boom clearance, overhead lines and other cranes.
- 07
INSPECT AND BRIEF
Complete pre-use. Brief signals and stop criteria. Then the hook.
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
- BC Crane Safety certificate for the class
- Competency on this configuration
- Able to read this chart
EQUIPMENT
- The crane for this lift
- Mats / cribbing as the plan
- Level
- Chart for this configuration
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
- Lifting with outriggers short unless the chart for that configuration is in the cab and in use
- Setting on covers, tanks or unknown backfill
- Skipping the swing check
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
- FLHA
- Pre-use / inspection record
- This SWP number and revision
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
PROVENsin(). Current version on this site.