Tips For Heavy Lifting and Rigging Engineering

TIPS FOR HEAVY LIFTING AND RIGGING ENGINEERING
TIPS FOR HEAVY LIFTING

AND
RIGGING ENGINEERING
Posted March 2003
This section contains tips and recommendations on heavy lifting and rigging engineering. I am a firm believer that the
better we communicate lessons learned, unique ideas and good rigging practices to others, the safer the rigging
industry will become. The material presented here has served me well during the years I worked as a Crane Operator,
Rigging Superintendent and Rigging Engineer. Readers are encouraged to submit tips, suggestions, comments,
recommendations, or requests for more information about a certain item. Credit for tips or recommendations submitted
will be given unless instructed not to. I reserve editorial rights on what material will be used.
The following topics have been address so far. Others will be added as time allows or on special request. The topics
under CRANES and RIGGING ENGINEERING are in alphabetical order but the items with in a topic are not. New
items will be added to the bottom of a particular topic.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CRANES
INSPECTION:
MAINTENANCE:
OPERATION:
RIGGING ENGINEERING
ATTACHMENT DESIGN:
CRANE SET UP:
CRANE STUDIES:
DEADMEN:
GROUND BEARING PRESSURE:
HOOKS:
LIFTING:
MODELS:
TAILING A VERTICAL VESSEL:
TRANSPORTATION:
WORK HABITS:
CRANES
INSPECTION:
1. CRANE INSPECTION AND LOAD TEST PROCEDURE FOR
CONVENTIONAL CRAWLER AND TRUCK CRANES
Every crane should be subjected to two types of inspections:

a. A maintenance inspection
b. A safety and operational inspection
The maintenance inspection is geared more to preventative maintenance and identifying those items requiring
repairs that will prevent the crane from being in a like new condition or from operating correctly, such as
oxidized or cracking paint, sheet metal damage, track pad wear, track roller wear, rubber tire wear, oil levels,
oil changes, etc. The Equipment Superintendent or his representative usually performs this inspection.
The safety and operational inspection, on the other hand is more concerned with identifying those items that
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will either stop a lift during the middle of an operation such as a worn sheave bearing that could freezes to it's
shaft or those items that could possibly lead to a component failure and an accident such as a hoist line with
broken wires or a bent boom lacing. For example, this inspection would not be as concerned with tire wear
because all lifts are required to take place on outriggers. However, excessive tire wear would be noted on the
inspection report.
Both inspections can be and sometimes are done by the same inspection party, but this procedure is geared to
the safety and operational inspection and assumes that someone else will complete the maintenance inspection.
Cranes should be visually inspected by "a qualified person". A qualified person being someone who by virtue
of his education and experience is knowledgeable about cranes, crane maintenance and rigging operations.
Cranes should be inspected per the crane manufactures recommendations and rigging procedures. This means
that the crane must be assembled with components specified by the manufacture and using his assembly
procedures.
Cranes should be visually inspected per good rigging practices and Industry standards.
Listed below are the most important items to inspect on a conventional crawler or truck crane and some wear
tolerances:
a. Boom suspension line and end attachment devices.
1. Check for broken, worn or crushed wire on the boom drum itself with the boom in the horizontal
and in the vertical at minimum radius where the heavy loads are more likely to occur. Replace
per ASME B30.5 or local standard.
2. Check for lack of lubrication and indications of rust.
3. Elongation of the pin holes in the end attachment devices such as open wedge sockets and
swage sockets should not be more than 1/8 " (3 mm). If the pins will not turn freely, then it is
an indication that the pin hole has elongated 1/8" (3 mm) or more.
b. Hoist line and end attachment device. Same criteria as 1 above
c. Boom pendants and swage fittings. Same criteria as 1 above
1. Broken wires will most usually occur right at the end of the swaged socket rather than in the
body of the pendant itself.
2. Boom pendants should be opened up with a marlinspike and checked for proper lubrication
and/or rust between the strands and the core.
d. Boom sections.
1. Cords
a. Must be straight within a tolerance of 1/8" in 10'
b. Must be free from cuts, nicks and rust. A cut of 1/16" (1.5 mm) or more is cause for
rejection
c. Must not be repaired by anyone other than the manufacture
d. Must have the correct material for the connecting pins or bolts
2. Lacings
a. Must be straight within a tolerance of 1/8" in 5'
b. Must be free from dings or gouges
c. Must be made of material approved by the manufacture
e. Welds must be free of cracks and rust
f. Lacings and their welds must be replaced/repaired only by a factory certified welder and
procedure
Note: If there is any question in the inspectors mind whether a boom section meets the requirements
listed above, he should contact the Crane Manufacture for a clarification. As the Crane Inspector, do
not place your self in a position where you are approving an inspection item that may well be a safety
hazard. Qualified help is available.
e. Sheaves.
1. Groves. The radius of the support area must not be less than 1/16" smaller than the wire rope
diameter to prevent pinching the wire rope, and must not be greater than 1/16" in order to
provide 135 degrees of support for the wire rope
2. Flanges must be continuous and free from structural damage
3. Shafts, bearings and pins. The sheaves must roll freely by hand and have less than 1/16" play
between the shaft and the bearing. If there is more play than the 1/16", disassemble the sheave
or sheave nest and check the bearings and pin. Replace either the bearings or pin (or both) as
required
f. Brakes and hoist clutches.
1. A single part line with a load equal to the full safe working load of the hoist line will test the
adjustment and the capacity of the brakes and the hoist clutches.
g. Hooks (for the load block and the overhaul ball on the jib)
1. Hooks should be inspected and tested per ASME B30.10
It is recommended that the crane inspector take a systematic approach to inspecting cranes and do it the same
way every time. For example,
a. Start the inspection by having the boom laid down in the horizontal with the boom tip and jib tip on the
ground.
b. Start at the right side of the crane and inspect the hoist lines, boom, jib and pendants out to the boom or
jib point.
c. Inspect the load block and the overhaul ball.
d. Inspect the left side of the boom, pendants and hoist lines back to the crane.
e. Inspect the hoist wire on the boom drum and the hoist drums for:
1. Wear, crushing, lubrication, etc
2. Spooling
f. Inspect the gantry and boom stops.
g. Inspect the counterweight.
h. Inspect the brake drums and lining.
i. Inspect the tracks and the car body.
j. Have the boom raised until it is at minimum radius and check the boom kick out mechanism. Do not
lower the load block or overhaul ball at this time.
k. Inspect the hoist wire on the boom drum with the boom at minimum radius.
l. Inspect the hoist wire on the hoist drums as the load block and over haul ball are lower to the ground.
Check to make sure there is a minimum of 5 wraps on each drum when they are at ground level.
m. All deficiencies must be corrected at this point before going on to the next step .
n. Lower the boom to about 50 degrees.
o. Perform a long radius load test per the load test procedure a listed below
LOAD TEST
It is recommended that load test "a" be performed for each routine crane inspection and each time the crane has
been assembled. Load test "b" should be performed to verify any structural modifications, repairs, and changes
to the configuration of the crane. The load tests should be conducted using certified or verifiable weights. The
crane should be set up on crane mats or on a firm surface for the load tests. These should also be full
functional tests as the crane should be checked to see that it will walk, swing, hoist up, hoist down, hold the
load, boom up, and boom down with a 100 % load, and to check all safety devices such as the vertical limit
switches on the hoist lines, the load moment kick out and the weight indicator, if applicable.
"a" A long radius load test (with the boom at approximately 50 degrees above horizontal) using test
weights equal to 100 % of the applicable capacity chart at the radius being used.
"b" A minimum or short radius load test using weights equal to 100 % of the applicable capacity chart at
the radius being used.
After each load test, the boom and boom support system (including the gantry back legs, etc), all wire rope and
end terminations, and load blocks should again be thoroughly inspected for signs of structural deformation.
Freshly cracked paint is a good indicator of deformation.
MAINTENANCE:
1. Adjustment of brake bands, clutch bands, etc should always be done according to the manufacturers
recommendations in the operators manual. The results of an adjustment are too critical to guess at how to
make them.
An example is the time I was assigned to a bridge project running a 60-ton Lima truck crane. The previous
operator on the Lima had told me that it wouldnt boom up with a heavy load so I inspected the boom hoist
clutch but, without an operators manual, I couldnt tell if it was adjusted correctly or not. We first poured the
footings and then started setting large gang forms to construct the piers. As we were setting the large gang
forms on the first pier, I boomed them carefully out into place so that I wouldnt have to boom back up with the
load. After all of the forms were set and the concrete crew started pouring them with a pump, I took the boom
hoist clutch out, filed off the layer of grim on the lining and cleaned up the inside of the drum with solvent. I
figured that this would take care of the boom problem. But, when we were ready to strip the pier and the
carpenters hooked me up to the first heavy form, I couldnt boom it up. The newly filed hoist clutch lining just
slipped and squealed, so I had to resort to my trusty operators kit and throw some powdered resin between the
lining and the drum. I was able to boom up all of the gang forms from the first pier and boom them back out
into place on the second pier.
I then took the boom hoist clutch out and took it to the maintenance shop and had it relined with the
recommended lining. I figured that I now had the problem solved, but when I tried to boom up with the first
heavy gang form from the second pier, the clutch acted the same way as before. So, again I resorted to
powdered resin. After we set the forms for the third pier, I went to the master mechanic in the home office
maintenance shop and asked him if he had a copy of the operators manual for the 60-ton Lima. He copied the
pages on the adjustment of the boom hoist clutch for me and off I went to check the actual adjustment.
As I was going through the adjustment check, everything checked out pretty well until I came to the adjustment
for the return spring on the rod for the air can. The adjustment in the book called for the spring to be tightened
until it was say 3 long. In measuring it, I found that it was tightened until it was only 1.5 long. As soon as I
saw this I knew that the return spring was tightened so tight that it was overcoming most of the force from the
air can that was required to seat the hoist clutch lining. The spring should have been just tight enough to keep
the lining from dragging on the drum. I made the correct adjustment and waited with anticipation as the
carpenters hooked me up to the first gang form. I engage the boom hoist clutch at low throttle and with out
any slipping or squealing, the crane slowly boomed the form up out of the hole. This made a believer out of
me; always make adjustments per the operators manual.
2. A lead crane operator should operate every crane on a project every two weeks or at least monthly to confirm
that the crane is in adjustment. Many times, inexperienced operators do not realize if a crane is getting out or is
actually out of adjustment. Cranes being out of adjustment for the work involved can lead to a mishap or
accident, i.e. when using a crane for a period of time doing regular hook work and then using it to make a
heavy lift without tightening up the brake bands, hoist clutches, etc.
OPERATION:
1. How to still a load:
Some crane operators go through their whole working careers without learning how to properly stop the motion
of the hook or load after the crane has stopped swinging or booming. They seem content to let it swing freely
or until someone grabs a hold of the load and stops it for them. It is the sign of a good crane operator when he
knows how to control his load at all times. Especially when it is quite easy to do so.
For example, a crane operator is pouring concrete. The operation includes picking up the bucket full of
concrete at the mixer truck and swinging it 90 degrees counterclockwise to the pour area. If he swings slowly,
then the bucket will stay pretty well under the hook during the circular journey and he can spot the bucket in
front of the dump man with little or no residual swinging in any direction (assuming his pick up point and
dump point are at the same radius).
Most concrete pours need to be completed as fast as possible, so typically the crane operator picks up the
bucket and swings as fast as he possibly can. A one-drum operator only performs one crane function at a time,
i.e. hoists, then swings, then booms, then lowers the bucket, etc. A good operator will perform several
functions at the same time, including hoisting, swinging and booming.
Therefore, as the operator in this example is a multi-drum operator, he will start hoisting the bucket and
swinging at the same time. This results in the boom tip leading the bucket by several feet during take off. As
he increases his swinging speed, the boom tip will lead the bucket even more. He will swing as fast as he can
with out causing the bucket to swing out away from the crane due to the centrifugal force. Just before he
reaches the end of the swing arc, he will reverse his swing clutches and slow the swinging of the crane until the
momentum of the concrete bucket brings it under the boom tip. As the bucket approaches the dump man, the
operator applies more pressure to the right swing clutch to stop the bucket (the right swing clutch is actually
slipping against drum flange as the crane is still swinging left). At this point, the boom tip is several feet
behind the bucket. As soon as the bucket is stopped in front of the dump man, the operator reverses the swing
clutches and swings the boom tip quickly to the left over the bucket and it is stilled, i.e. it does not move side
ways in relation to the boom.
If it swings in and out at this point due to excess centrifugal force, the operator merely waits until it reaches the
end of its swing arc in toward the crane and quickly booms up, bringing the tip of the boom over the bucket
and again it is stilled in this direction. If the operator can see that he actually needs to boom down somewhat
for the bucket to be in the correct position for the dump man, he would wait for the bucket to reach the end of
its swing arc away from the crane and then boom down over the bucket. Again, this will stop any swinging to
or away from the crane. As everyone in rigging knows, the center of gravity of any load wants to hang under
the boom tip. In this example, when the bucket is hanging under the boom tip, it cant swing with out a
horizontal force of some kind acting on it.
If the dump point is at a larger radius than the pick up point, the operator will have to boom down during or at
the end of the 90-degree swing arc. This can make stilling the bucket even trickier, but the operator would still
the bucket using the same procedure as above.
If the pouring operation is being made in the blind, the signalman has to be the operators eyes. He will have to
anticipate the crane functions needed and give signals, either by radio or by hand, to the operator in time for
him to make them happen smoothly and safely. Operations are always done slower in the blind. When ever
possible, the operation should be set up so that the operator can see the load at all times.
Some operators use a suck line when pouring concrete. A suck line is a hoist line running fairly horizontal
from the front drum on the crane out thru fairleads to a connector link located just above the hook. This
prevents the bucket from moving away from the crane and allows the operator to swing at a much faster speed.
At the end of the swing cycle, he only has to still the bucket in one direction, which is side ways to the boom.
A suck line also lets the operator change the radius of the bucket almost instantaneously. He can start at the
mixer truck with a low boom angle and the bucket at say a 30 radius and during the swing arc let out on his
suck line so that with in a second, the bucket is at a 50 radius. He does this function with his feet so he can
add one more function to his multi-function list. In fact, if he is coordinated enough and his brakes are smooth
enough, he can actually let out on the suck line and the hoist line at the same time and let the bucket sail freely
thru the air. The tricky part is braking smooth enough so that he doesnt flip concrete out of the bucket. Using
a suck line to pour concrete can increase the quantity poured by at least 50%. To use a suck line effectively, the
crane must be located high enough that the suck line clears all obstructions during swinging, i.e., forms, vertical
embedded rebar, etc.
2. Swing operation for a standard lattice boom crane, crawler or truck crane:
All of the gears, sprockets, and shafts mounted on the equipment deck of the crane are called the draw works.
The horizontal reverse clutches located in the draw works are used to swing the crane. Refer to the sketch
below for the location of these clutches. The internal expanding bands (swing clutches) are not shown for
clarity and only the clutch drums are shown connected to shaft No. 3. Shaft No. 3 is actually hollow and is
made up of two sections. One section is connected to pinion gear I and a clutch drum and the other section
connects to pinion gear Jand the other clutch drum. These two sections of shaft only rotate when the crane
swings. A second shaft is connected to sprocket C and runs thru both sections of shaft No. 3. The swing
clutches are also connected to this second shaft. This means that this shaft and both swing clutches are rotating
whenever the draw works are turning.
If the crane operator wants to swing to the left, he would move the swing lever until the left swing clutch starts
to bear against and slip on the drum flange closest to sprocket C. He would continue to apply more pressure
on the left swing clutch until less slippage occurres and the left clutch drum starts to rotate, which in turn
rotates pinion gear I and on down thru the power train until the swing pinion R starts the crane swinging to
the left. Note, as pinion gear I is turning counterclockwise, pinion gear J is turning clockwise. As the
crane starts to swing faster, the operator would only keep enough pressure on the left swing clutch to keep the
crane swinging at the speed he want to maintain. Note, that very seldom, does the operator actually apply
enough pressure on a swing clutch to lock it to the drum flange. Most of the time, the swing clutches slip
against the drum flanges to get the desired swing action. If he centers the swing lever, neither swing clutch is
in contact with a drum flange and the crane would then just be coastingon its own. To stop the crane from
swinging left, the operator would move the swing lever in the opposite direction and apply enough pressure
with the right swing clutch until it slowly brings the crane to a stop. If the operator then wants to swing to the
right, he would continue keeping pressure with the right swing clutch until the crane starts to slowly swing
right. The main purpose of the above narrative is to show that swinging a crane is accomplished by playing one
swing clutch against the other by slipping them against the appropriate drum flange. The swing clutches are
never applied hard enough to stop the crane suddenly as this would side load the boom, rather the crane is
always brought to a gentle stop before reversing it in the opposite direction.
Hydraulic cranes do not have horizontal reverse clutches; instead they swing by means of hydraulic swing
motors hooked directly to swing pinions similar to R. Some hydraulic cranes are set up so that they will
coast when the swing lever is centered. Most hydraulic cranes will not coast and to swing, the operator meters
oil thru the hydraulic motors one way or the other. When the operator stops metering oil thru the hydraulic
motors, they stops turning. Therefore, he has to be very gentle as he stops the flow of oil to the motors to keep
from side loading the boom.
RIGGING ENGINEERING
ATTACHMENT DESIGN:
1. A safety factor of 1.8 is recommended for lifting attachment design. By using this factor and using the AISC
allowables for stresses, the design will conform to ASME B30.20, Below the hook lifting devices.
2. Lug design for any lifting attachment must conform to AISCs Part 5, specifications and codes, sections on pinconnected plates and eyebars.
3. A minimum safety factor of 1.25 should be used in analyzing vessel shell, skirt and basering stresses due to
lifting forces.
4. The allowable bending stress used in analyzing the above vessel stresses should not exceed .75*Fy.
5. In some cases, it is easier to initially draw a design to scale and show it the way it is supposed to look or fit up,
and then go back and check it mathematically to ensure that it will work.
6. The design of some lifting attachments, especially like a long spreader bar, should be limited by the amount of
deflection involved and not just the stresses involved. A long spreader bar can be designed so that it is
structurally sound but have visible deflection at the middle. In order to have the erection crew feel comfortable
with using the bar, the design should limit the deflection so that it cannot be seen, even though the stresses may
be very low.
7. Over the years, in checking spreader bars designed with lugs top and bottom, it has been found that in most
cases the designers do not understand how to design them with the least amount of bending, and the field is
even worse in using them.And yet, most of the spreader bars in use to day by the average contractor is this
type of bar.This type of bar is show in the sketch below.
To illustrate how critical the design is, take the example of an 18" dia x 32 STD wall pipe spreader bar with
the CG of the load at the center of the bar. The top lugs are not centered over the bottom lugs but are each
171.34 from the CG while each bottom lug is 180 from the CG. The centerline of the top lugs is 15 from
the centerline of the bar. With these dimensions, and with the top slings at a 60 degree angle with the
horizontal, the line of force from the slings intersects the centerline of the bar exactly over the bottom lugs.
Therefore, the bar will have zero bending from the influence of the slings. This bar will carry a 600 kip load
based on a combined unity stress check of 1.0. If slings at 55 degrees are used, this bar will only handle a 325
kip load. If slings at 70 degrees are used, this bar will only handle a 440 kip load.
If the top lifting lugs were originally located directly over the bottom lifting lugs, and with the slings at 60
degrees, this bar will only handle a 155 kip load.
Therefore, it can be seen that if this type of bar is used, that it should be designed for zero moment due to the
influence of the slings, and a sling angle of 60 degrees is recommended. Using the bar with slings that produce
sling angles greater or lesser than 60 degrees should be done only after a through design check has been made.
As a last comment, the top lugs should never be located directly over the bottom lugs if the design is to achieve
maximum capacity of the spreader bar.
CRANE SET UP:

1. Crane Leveling Procedure
a. Layout the crane mats on the lift pad constructed per the steps in the lift pad construction.
b. Walk the crane upon the mats and if possible, swing the counterweight around several times.
c. Using a four-foot carpenters level, check the level in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.
Check the transverse direction by placing the carpenters level on the machinery deck between the boom
foot pins. The bubble in the carpenters level should be fairly well centered between the marks, and not
more than 1/8 out of level.

d. If the crane is out of level more than 1/8 in four feet, walk the crane back off the mats and place
plywood under the track areas as required.
e. Walk the crane back upon the mats and recheck the level.
2. Crane Lift Pad Construction
In general, the lift pad under the crane mats should be constructed to the following requirements:
a. A levelness of in 30 ft.
b. The lift pad should extend 3 feet outside the crane mats in all directions.
c. Any down slopes connected to the lift pad should be at a 2:1 (Horizontal: Vertical) slope or flatter.
d. The lift pad should be constructed so that it is well drained.
e. The lift pad should be constructed to the required soil bearing capacity.
3. Crane Mats
It is recommended that crane mats be used under the tracks of the crane for the following conditions:
a. When the soil bearing pressure under the crane tracks exceeds the allowable soil bearing pressure.
b. When the load is greater than 75 % of the lifting capacity of the lift crane, even if the allowable soil
bearing pressure is greater than the actual soil bearing pressure under the tracks.
c. When the load is greater than 60 % of the lifting capacity of the tail crane, even if the allowable soil
bearing pressure is greater than the actual soil bearing pressure under the tracks.
4. The top layer of crane mats should be laid out perpendicular to the crane tracks.
5. The crane mats should be placed as close to each other as possible. Do not leave gaps between the crane mats
and then fill the gaps with gravel.
6. The effective length of the crane mats extending past the ends of the tracks must be used in determining the
crane mat requirements for the lift. Consult a Rigging Engineer if necessary.
7. Crane mats or wooden blocking used under the floats of truck cranes should have an area that is at least four
times larger than the area of the floats. This mat area should be used over soil or concrete. For cranes larger
than 100 tons, a soil bearing study should be made to ensure that the correct area of crane mats is used for the
allowable soil bearing of the lift pad. This is especially true for capacity lifts.
8. Blocking tumblers.
To correctly block the idler tumblers (the front tumblers), steel plate or hardwood blocking should be placed
directly under the centerline of the idler tumblers and in a thickness recommended by the crane manufacturer.
See the Manitowoc Engineering sketch below showing the correct location for blocking. The thickness of the
blocking should range from about 1/2" to 1-3/8", depending on the crane manufacturer. The blocking width
should be a maximum of 24" so it will not extend back under the front rollers. The length of the blocking
should be equal to the width of the shoes + 12" (for a 6" extension either side of the track).
The following procedure should be used to block the idler tumblers:

a. Lay crane mats transverse to the tracks.
b. Walk the crane upon the mats until it is within the set radius for the lift
c. Set the travel locks on the crane
d. Walk the crane back against the travel locks
e. Check the radius to make sure the crane is still within the set radius
f. Mark the location of the centerline of the idler tumblers on the crane mats
g. Walk the crane slightly forward until the travel locks can be disengaged
h. Walk the crane backward about 5 feet
i. Place the steel plate or hard wood blocking on the crane mats. Center the
blocking so that there is 12" either side of the idler tumbler centerline mark on the
crane mats.
j. Walk the crane forward until the centerline of the idler tumblers is a few
inches past the centerline of the blocking on the mats.
k. Engage the travel locks.
l. Walk the crane back against the travel locks.
m. At this point, the centerline of the idler tumblers and the centerline of the
blocking should coincide.
n. Recheck the radius
o. Make the lift.
Comments on blocking tumblers.

a. To correctly block the idler tumblers, the crane must be on mats, concrete, etc. The tumblers cannot be
blocked by placing the blocking on soil, as the supporting surface must be strong enough to transfer the
fulcrum point from the center of the front rollers to the center of the idler tumblers.
b. A certified blocked tumbler lifting capacity chart must be used when lifting with the tumblers blocked
to get additional capacity above the regular lifting capacity chart. Otherwise, use blocked tumblers
when lifting with a regular lifting capacity chart to provide added safety, not to increase the lifting
capacity.
c. Remember that the lifting swing range for blocked tumbler ratings is over the front of the tracks and
within a projected centerline from each track.
CRANE STUDIES:
1. When doing a preliminary crane study, especially for a heavy lift, the following guidelines should be followed:
a. Use a maximum of 80% of lifting capacity chart for the crane being considered. Equipment to be
erected has a habit of getting larger and heavier as it is being fabricated in the shop. Using 80% will
provide some reserve capacity, just in case of growth.
b. In the elevation view of the crane study, use two (2) feet of clearance between the bottom of the boom
and the spreader bar, the load, etc.
c. In the elevation view of the crane study, use five (5) feet of vertical clearance between the bottom of the
load and the anchor bolts or support structure.
Using the design parameters above will provide some reserve capacity and clearances as the actual weight and
size of the load and the plot plan are being finalized.
2. Design parameters for final design of an Engineered lift:
a. In general, use a maximum of 95% of the lifting capacity chart of the crane. For a lift to be made at
100% of the lifting capacity chart, the following factors must be considered:
1. The weight of the load must be know to +/- .5 %
2. The soil bearing pressure from the lift must be lower than the allowable soil bearing of the soil
under the crane mats or concrete lift pad.
3. The crane must be set up solid and level.
4. The weather conditions must be clear and calm.
5. The lift must be made very slowly without any impact.
b. Use a minimum of one (1) foot of clearance between the boom and spreader bar, load, etc.
c. Use a minimum of three (3) feet of vertical clearance between the bottom of the load and the anchor
bolts or support structure.
DEADMEN:
1. Buried deadmen should be used when every possible as they are much safer than deadmen used on top of the
ground. For example, using a coefficient of friction between concrete and dry soil for sliding can quickly be
reduced to a coefficient of friction some where between concrete and ice if the weather turns cold or rainy.
Also, an impact loading can move a deadman when it exceeds the sliding safety factor. If properly designed
and backfilled, a buried deadman should never move more than an 1/8 to .
2. Example of a deadman design:

a. Maximum tension in the guywire = 76 kips
b. Slope of the guywire = 20 degrees
c. Use a safety factor = 1.5
d. Use a line of action of the guywire force through the center of pressure
e. Use 350-lbs/cu ft for equivalent fluid density (EFD) from the soils report
f. Fp = force from the passive earth pressure acting at 1/3 of the way from the base of the triangle
g. Water table is at grade.
h. Fb = buoyancy force
i. Neglect the one-foot of over burden
j. Neglect sliding friction between the deadman and the ground
k. Neglect negative pressure on the bottom and back face of the deadman
l. Assume a deadman 8 wide (w) x 8 high (h) x 11 long (L)
Refer to the sketch below:
R = 76* 1.5 = 114 kips
V = 38.99 kips
H = 107.12 kips
E = 8/3 = 2.67
Check horizontal movement (sliding):
Resisting force Fp = EFD*L*h^2/2 = (350 lbs/ft^3)*11*8^2/2 =123.20 kips
123.20 kips > 107.12 kips GOOD
Check up lift:
Up lift force = V + Fb = 38.99 kips + 8*8*11*62.40 lbs/ft^3 = 82.92 kips
Resisting concrete weight CW = 8*8*11*150 lbs/ft^3 = 105.60 kips
105.60 kips > 82.82 kips GOOD
Check overturning at point A:
Overturning moment = (Fb + V)*w/2 + H*E =

= 82.92*4 + 107.12*2.67 = 617.69 kip-ft
Resisting moment = Fp*E + 105.60*w/2 = 123.30*2.67 + 105.60*4 = 751.61 kips
751.61 kip-ft > 617.69 kip-ft GOOD
Summary:
The 8wide x 8 high x 11 long deadman is adequate for a guyline tension of 76 kips where the water
table is at grade or ground level.

GROUND BEARING PRESSURE:
1. Ground bearing capacity boils down to a matter of how much settlement can be tolerated for a lift and/or how
much money it takes to make the risk acceptable, i.e. if you wanted to be extremely safe, a reinforced concrete
lift pad complete with piles could be constructed at a huge cost. As an alternative, the lift pad could be
constructed of crushed rock overlaid with crane mats at a much cheaper cost. The reinforced concrete pad
could be design to have negligible settlement and the crushed rock and crane mat pad could be designed for
acceptable settlements of say .5. If the lift was directly over the front of the crane so that both tracks settled
.5, then the settlement would not be a problem as the boom would not be side loaded. If the lift included
picking and swinging 90 degrees, and the .5 of settlement followed the lift around, again the settlement would
not be a problem.
The problem with settlement is when it is differential settlement. This causes side loading on the boom and
also impairs the smooth operation of the crane by having to swing up hill, etc. Therefore, in most cases, the lift
pad has to be designed so that differential settlement is minimal. This doesnt mean using reinforced concrete
lift pads either. It can usually be done with improving the strength of the lift pad with crushed rock or
limestone and using crane mats over it.
If the ground bearing capacity of the lift pad is slightly below the ground bearing pressure caused by the lift, a
failure of the soil will not occur, just settlement. For example, consider a lift with a ground bearing pressure of
5,000 psf being made on a lift pad with a ground bearing capacity of say 4,000 psf. In this case, the lift pad
will settle until it picks up the required bearing area to support 5,000 psf and then the settlement will stop. This
is usually what happens and nobody realizes that the settlement has taken place, even if it causes some
differential settlement with some side loading of the boom. That is unless it settles far enough to cause an
accident.
So, in summation, ground-bearing capacity is really a matter of how much settlement can be tolerated and if
any differential settlement can be allowed.
2. Figure 10-4 below shows some bearing values that can be used as guidelines when estimating the bearing
strength of a lift pad or the surrounding soil. Be very conservative in using the table, i.e. if the lift pad and the
subsoil are made of firm sandy gravel; choose class 6 with a bearing value of 8,000 psf instead of class 5 with
10,000 psf. Whenever in doubt or for a very critical lift, dont guess. Have the owner provide an allowable
ground bearing capacity for the lift pad or sub soil.
HOOKS:
1. Load block hooks up to and including 250 ton capacity, should be completely disassembled from the load
blocks, thoroughly inspected, and repaired as required to bring them and any component parts back to a like
new condition. This should be done at least every five years.
2. Overhaul ball hooks should be completely disassembled from the overhaul balls, thoroughly inspected, and
repaired as required to bring them and any component parts back to a like new condition. This should be done
at least every other year.
3. FOR ENGINEERED LIFTS ONLY, Crosby now allows three (3) slings and four (4) slings to be collected in
the bowl of a Crosby Shank Hook with the following restrictions: (Refer to the sketch below for a graphic
illustration of the sling configurations)
a. All legs must be collected within 30 degrees either side of the centerline of the hook bowl as illustrated
in Figure 1 and 2 of the sketch.
b. For Three (3) Leg Slings:
1. The vertical plane * of the hook should be parallel with the plane of the sheaves
2. The horizontal sling angle of the legs must be 60 degrees or greater
3. The single leg must be on the point side, and the double legs on the backside of the hook throat
4. The sum of the vertical components must not exceed the WLL of the system and/or the hook
5. The included angle between the sling legs must be 120 degrees as shown in the top view of
Figure 1
c. For Four (4) Leg Slings:
1. All legs must be loaded equally with symmetrical angles about the vertical centerline of the
hook
2. The sum of the vertical components must not exceed the WLL of the system or the hook
3. The horizontal sling angle of the legs must be 60 degrees or greater
d. All other loading conditions must be analyzed by a qualified person, and the WLL reduced such that the
combined hook shank stresses (bending & tensile) do not exceed the original shank tensile stress at the
rated WLL
* The vertical plane bisects the hook through the centerline of the shank and point
4. When every possible, the hook should be locked to the load block to prevent twisting up of the hoist lines
during lifting. Attach taglines to the load to control rotation. If the orientation of the load to the boom at the
initial pick position (IPP) is not the same as at the set position, a quarter back twist or forward twist of the hoist
lines might be necessary to prevent scrubbing of the lines during load lowering.
LIFTING:
1. I feel that the most important factors for making a safe lift are:
a. Determine a conservative weight of the load. Include applicable weights of the jib, load block, overhaul
ball, hoist line, rigging gear, etc.
b. Set the crane up solid and level.
c. Stay within the lifting capacity chart of the crane for the configuration being used.
d. Lift only in weather conditions recommended by the crane manufacture.
e. Always be conservative and do not reduce the planned safety factor of the lift. Always allow for the
unexpected.
Other considerations for making a safe lift are:
a. Hold a prelift meeting with everyone involved in the lift, including safety representatives and client
representatives.
b. Review the checklist for the lift.
c. Explain the duties of each member of the crew, i.e. who is in charge of the lift, who signals the lift, etc.
d. Decide on the method of communication, either visual hand signals or radio controlled, etc.
e. Inspect the rigging prior to the lift for damage and fit up.
f. Inspect all lifting attachments prior to the lift to ensure that they have been fabricated and connected to
the load per the designers drawings.
g. Use sling softeners between the slings and any sharp radii of the load.
h. Use tag lines to control the load and keep workers away from the load. No one should touch the load
until it has been centered over and just above the anchor bolts or support, and where applicable, has
been secured against horizontal and vertical movement.
i. Use a tape measure to layout the radius for the crane, do not step it off or use the boom angle indicator.
The boom angle indicator should only be used as a reference.
j. Make a dry run without the load to ensure the lift pad is level and there is adequate clearance between
the counterweight, the boom and adjacent structures.
k. Watch for boom draw down as the crane takes the load. Boom draw down increase the radius of the
crane and can result in the load drifting away from the crane. Boom up as required to maintain the
planned lift radius before floating the load.
l. On critical lifts, such as upending a long heavy vertical vessel, use survey equipment to track the boom
tip through out the lift. Once the vessel is being upended, it is hard to tell just by visually looking to
know if the boom tip is at the planned radius. As the crane takes more and more of the weight of the
vessel, the operator can be directed to boom up as desired to maintain the planned radius.
m. Use tie back lines at initial pick between the crane and the load to prevent the load from drifting away
from the crane, especially of capacity lifts where an increase in radius cannot be tolerated.
n. Use caution when the lifting operation includes swinging with a load, especially 180 degrees. If the
crane is not level and swinging starts on the high side with the load positioned at a certain radius, the
radius will increase as the load swings to the low side of the crane, possibly exceeding the maximum
radius for the lift.
o. Instruct the operator to engage the boom dog and release it only when booming down is required.
p. Instruct the operator to leave the house swing brake and/or lock off during lifting.
q. When working with crawler cranes, added safety can be obtained by making all lifts over the front of
the tracks with the tumblers blocked. As the crane takes the weight of the load, a qualified person,
either the crane oiler or rigger, should constantly monitor the track rollers on the counterweight side of
the crane. If daylight occurs between the bottom of the rollers and the top of the track shoes, or
settlement occurs under the load side of the tracks, the lift should be stopped and the lift conditions
checked as tipping may be starting
r. A qualified person, either the crane oiler or rigger should constantly monitor the outriggers as the truck
crane takes the load. If daylight occurs between the top of the outrigger beams and the outrigger
housing on the counterweight side of the crane or settlement occurs under the outriggers on the load side
of the crane, the lift should be stopped and the lift conditions checked as tipping may be starting.
s. A qualified person, either the crane oiler or rigger should constantly monitor the position of the load
block during the lift by standing directly behind the lattice boom crane and looking through the center
of the boom, or by standing behind and sighting on both sides of a hydraulic crane boom. If the load
block is not centered in the boom, the lift should be stopped and lift conditions checked as the boom is
being side loaded.
t. Whenever possible, make a dry run with the load just clearing the ground. Swing the load over the
side, for example, and boom it out into a clear area to the actual set radius. Check the stability of the
crane at the set radius, boom the load into minimum radius, swing to the set angle over the rear of the
crane, boom out and set the load.
u. Do not make any lift in winds that exceed the manufacturers recommendations.
v. If the crane is working at minimum radius, boom down before releasing all the load weight. Failure to
do so will result in bent boom stops and/or a bent boom as the stretch comes out of the boom pendants.
The above list is not all-inclusive, but contains the most important elements needed to make a safe lift. The
rigging supervisor and the rigging crew should also follow all good rigging practices and industry standards.
MODELS:
1. Models are very useful for determining how a load will react during lifting. The model doesnt have to look
exactly like the load being lifted; it only needs to be to some scale with the weight, the location of the lifting
points and the location of the center of gravity in proportion to the actual load.
A photo of a model of Quiz No. 1 is shown below. Note that all that was required was a two foot piece of
wood, two pieces of bicycle chain and sprockets, a 1.5 nipple, a bolt, a nut, some washers and some string.
TAILING A VERTICAL VESSEL:

1. For maximum safety during a tailing operation, the boom on the tail crane should be as short as possible.
Many contractors try to get multi-use out of a crane, without changing the boom. The small expense of
shortening the boom for a tailing operation and then lengthen it again is worth the added safety achieved.
2. Do not use a jib on the tail crane during a tailing operation. It is hard to keep the jib mast or the jib itself from
interfering with platforms, etc.
3. Vertical vessels that do not have tail lugs for up ending will have to be erected using a tail sling(s). There is
some risk in this operation if the tail sling is not rigged properly around the skirt or bottom of the vessel. The
correct procedure is:
a. Refer to the sketch at the bottom of this item and select the recommended timber blocking size for the
diameter of the vessel being erected, i.e. for a 4' diameter vessel, use four- 4" x 4" x 6' hard wood
blocks.
b. Position the four blocks on the skirt of the vessel as shown and secure them with two tirfors or comealongs.
c. Attach the tail sling to the hook on the tail crane.
d. Center the hook and tail sling over the vessel about 2' from the base plate.
e. Wrap the tail sling around the skirt and connect it as shown with the appropriate shackle.
f. Before tightening up the tail sling, rotate the sling (clockwise as viewed on the sketch) around the skirt
about 6". This will move the shackle off center and force it and the sling to bite down on to the timbers
as the sling is being tightened up.
g. Snug up on the tail sling. If the tail sling is not centered over the vessel, slack off on the sling and
repeat step f.
h. Hammer the shackle down as far as it will go until it rests on the timbers.
i. Slowly hoist until the crane has about 50 % of the tail load. If the sling and shackle are snug down
against the timbers and the sling is centered over the skirt, the bottom of the vessel is ready to be lifted.
Note! If the sling and shackle are snug down against the timbers, it is nearly impossible for the sling to slip or
ride up as the vessel is being up ended. In order for the sling to ride up on the skirt, the circumferential length
of the sling around the skirt would have to increase. Under load, this is impossible. The friction between the
sling /wood and the skirt provides a resisting force that is greater than necessary to prevent slippage of the
sling.
4. Do not tail a vessel by placing a choker on a cone section. The sling will slip to the small diameter of the cone
during lifting, possibly damaging the sling and/or flange.
TRANSPORTATION:
1. Transportation drawings should show the stability of the trailer and load for both tipping and structural.
Calculations should be furnished that back up the above information. Allowable tipping should be calculated
on a 5:1 safety factor. This is applicable to platform trailers and lowboys.

2. Transportation drawings for platform trailers should show how the hydraulic cylinders are plumbed, i.e., in a
three-point suspension or in a four-point suspension.
WORK HABITS:
1. Work habits that have served me well during my career:
a. Carrying a notebook and keeping a to do list. Prioritizing it daily
b. Carrying a small tape measure and a piece of soap stone to the field
c. Keeping only one design job on my desk at a time
d. Breaking each job down and getting the long term items started first, so the job will come together as
efficiently as possible
e. Always starting work on time. You can start work early, you can stay late, but people will always know
if you are running late
f. Knowing that hindsight is always 20-20. Learning from my mistakes and then moving on, not dwelling
on the mistakes
g. Keeping my employees from making the big mistakes, but letting them make the little ones by
themselves, so they can learn and progress
h. Letting my employees know that if anything goes wrong, I will take the blame and when things go
well, everybody will share the credit
i. Being loyal to the company and being honest. Never accepting more than a dinner from a Vendor
j. Being passionate about by work. I never had a day that I didnt enjoy going to work.

Tips For Heavy Lifting and Rigging Engineering

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TIPS FOR HEAVY LIFTING AND RIGGING ENGINEERING