A crane may only spend a few hours on a construction site, but preparing for those hours can begin days or even weeks beforehand.

For contractors, scheduling the crane is just one piece of the process. The equipment must be able to enter the property, reach an appropriate setup location, pick up the intended load and complete the lift without unexpected jobsite obstacles interfering with the work.

Something as simple as a blocked entrance or incorrectly reported equipment weight can disrupt the day’s schedule.

That is why contractors should treat crane day as a coordinated project rather than simply an equipment delivery.

Before your next scheduled lift, use the following crane jobsite checklist to make sure the important details have been addressed.

Know What the Crane Will Be Picking Up

One of the first pieces of information your crane rental provider will need is an accurate description of the load.

What is being lifted?

How much does it weigh?

What are its dimensions?

Where is it currently located, and where is it going?

Whenever possible, obtain verified weight information instead of making an educated guess. Depending on the item, specifications may be available from the manufacturer, supplier, engineering documents or shipping paperwork.

Dimensions are important as well. Measure the length, width and height of the object and make note of any unusual features that could influence how it is handled.

Having this information ready during your initial crane rental conversation gives the provider a much better starting point for evaluating the job.

Determine the Distance Between the Crane and the Load

A common mistake is focusing exclusively on how heavy something is.

The crane also has to reach it.

Consider both the pickup point and final destination. A load being placed directly beside a crane presents a different situation than one traveling across a building, onto an elevated structure or into an area where the crane cannot be positioned nearby.

Before calling, gather any available measurements showing the distances involved.

Photos can also be extremely useful. Take wide photographs showing the overall property rather than only close-up pictures of the item being lifted.

For more complicated jobs, site plans, drawings or an in-person evaluation may be appropriate.

Walk the Crane’s Route Before the Scheduled Date

Do not wait for the crane to pull up to determine whether it can get through the entrance.

Walk the anticipated access route yourself.

Start at the roadway and continue all the way to the proposed setup location. Look at gates, turns, driveways, temporary fencing, parked machinery and stored construction materials.

Pay attention to vertical clearance, too.

Tree limbs, wires, building features and temporary structures can create problems that may not be obvious when looking only at the ground.

Ask the crane company what type of access its equipment will require. Then keep that route open when crane day arrives.

Take a Close Look at the Setup Surface

The area where the crane will operate deserves special attention.

A surface that can handle pickup trucks and ordinary construction traffic should not automatically be assumed suitable for crane operations.

Conditions that need to be identified may include soft areas, uncompacted fill, recently excavated sections, slopes, saturated ground and other conditions that could affect equipment support.

Contractors should also identify known hazards hidden below the surface.

For example, the proposed crane location could contain underground utilities, tanks, vaults or other structures.

Available site records and drawings can be valuable when identifying these conditions.

If you have concerns about the proposed setup location, raise them with the crane provider before the scheduled date.

Look Above the Work Area

After inspecting the ground, inspect the sky around the lifting area.

Where are the power lines?

Are utility wires crossing the property?

Could trees interfere with the planned work area?

Are there signs, light poles, scaffolding, roofs or other structures nearby?

Overhead electrical lines require particular attention because crane operations around power lines are subject to specific safety requirements.

Never assume a line is far enough away or that the crane can simply work around it. Tell your crane rental provider about nearby lines during the planning process so they can be considered before operations begin.

Find Out What Is Underground

Contractors often think about what the crane must travel over without considering what is underneath it.

Before crane day, gather available information regarding buried infrastructure around the proposed setup area.

Depending on the property, this could include:

• Water or sewer lines
• Electrical utilities
• Gas services
• Drainage systems
• Utility vaults
• Tanks
• Previously excavated areas
• Other subsurface structures or voids

Share known underground conditions with the appropriate people involved in planning the crane operation.

Reserve Space for Deliveries and Staging

The crane needs room, but so does everything supporting the lift.

Where will the item being lifted be located when the crane arrives?

Where will delivery vehicles wait?

Where can rigging and other equipment be staged?

Will support trucks need access?

Map out these spaces before the scheduled lift and keep them available.

If another subcontractor fills the designated staging area with pallets or parks equipment across the access route, workers may spend valuable time rearranging the site instead of preparing the lift.

Communicating the crane schedule to other trades can help prevent those conflicts.

Clarify Rigging Responsibilities

Rigging is another subject worth discussing before crane day.

Do not make assumptions about who is supplying particular equipment or performing particular tasks.

Ask the crane rental company what is included with its service and what needs to be provided or coordinated by the contractor.

The type of load can influence what is needed. Structural components, HVAC units, generators, machinery and precast products can present very different lifting considerations.

If the load has designated lifting points or manufacturer instructions related to lifting, make that information available during planning.

Make Sure the Right People Are Available

Crane day should not begin with workers trying to figure out who is responsible for what.

Identify the people involved ahead of time.

Depending on the lift, that may include the crane operator, appropriate rigging personnel, signal personnel, the contractor’s representative, equipment suppliers and other workers whose responsibilities are directly connected to the operation.

There may also be employees who have no reason to be in the immediate work area.

Planning personnel assignments beforehand can reduce confusion and unnecessary activity around the operation.

Decide How Communication Will Work

A busy construction site can become loud quickly. Workers may also be positioned where they cannot easily communicate face-to-face.

Determine how necessary communication will take place before lifting starts.

When signals are required, OSHA has requirements governing signal-person qualifications and crane signaling. Clear communication is particularly important when the operator cannot fully see the load or its destination.

The contractor should also communicate with the rest of the jobsite.

Let other crews know when the crane is expected, which areas will be affected and whether normal access or work activities will change.

Ask About Permits and Traffic Requirements

Not every crane can operate entirely within the boundaries of a private construction site.

Some projects may affect public roads, sidewalks, parking areas or other controlled spaces.

If the crane or supporting equipment will occupy these areas, determine early whether permits, temporary closures, traffic control or other arrangements may be necessary.

Permit requirements can vary depending on the location and project.

This is another reason contractors should avoid waiting until the last minute to contact a crane rental company.

When Should You Schedule Crane Rental?

Call as soon as you know a crane will likely be required.

You do not have to wait until every measurement and project detail is finalized before starting the conversation.

Early contact gives you an opportunity to find out what information the crane provider needs and identify potential complications while there is still time to address them.

When calling, be prepared to discuss the jobsite address, approximate lift date, load description, known weight, dimensions, placement location, site access and possible hazards.

For larger or more complicated lifts, additional planning may be necessary.

Questions Contractors Should Ask Before Crane Day

Before finalizing the schedule, ask your crane rental provider questions such as:

• What load information do you need from us?
• How much space should we reserve for crane setup?
• What access requirements should we prepare for?
• Do you want photos, plans or measurements beforehand?
• Are there specific ground conditions we need to address?
• What should we tell you about underground utilities?
• Who will be responsible for rigging?
• What equipment or personnel should we have ready?
• Will additional vehicles arrive with the crane?
• Are there jobsite preparations that must be completed before arrival?
• Should permits or traffic control be arranged?
• How early should the site be ready on crane day?

Getting answers beforehand can make the scheduled operation much easier to coordinate.

The Best Crane Days Usually Start Before the Crane Arrives

Contractors have enough moving pieces to manage without discovering preventable crane-related problems on the morning of a lift.

Preparing access, confirming load information, evaluating the proposed setup area, identifying hazards, reserving staging space and coordinating personnel can eliminate many last-minute complications.

A useful final step is to walk the entire jobsite the day before the crane arrives.

Follow the crane’s expected path from the entrance to the setup area. Check the ground. Look overhead. Confirm the load is accessible. Verify that staging areas remain clear and make sure the necessary workers know when they are expected.

Most importantly, keep your crane rental provider informed.

If something about the site, load or schedule changes, communicate it as early as possible. Crane rental works best when the contractor and crane company can plan the operation with accurate information rather than solving unexpected problems after the equipment reaches the jobsite.