With a reputation as the leading suppliers of crane trucks, we often get asked by the public about hiab lifting plans and crane safety. So, when operating a HIAB crane truck or any lorry loader crane, there are two questions which should always come first: Is this lift safe? and is this lift compliant?

One of the key components in answering both is having a robust lifting plan. In this long-form guide, we’ll explore why every HIAB lift should be planned, how lifting plans tie into legal obligations, and how modern crane safety technology from brands like HIAB, Palfinger, and Cormach is helping to protect operators and improve site safety.

Does Every HIAB Lift Requires a Plan?

The short answer is yes—HIAB operations must have a lifting plan. Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), all lifting operations must be properly planned, supervised, and performed by competent individuals. A lifting plan documents this process so that potential hazards are recognized and precautions are in place before the crane ever sets foot outside the yard.

What Does a Lifting Plan Include?

• Load weight and size
• HIAB (or alternative) crane specs, including safe working load (SWL)
• Ground and environmental conditions
• Roles of all personnel involved
• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
• Emergency procedures
• Method statement for carrying out the lift

Whether you’re moving pallets of bricks to a site or lifting plant machinery onto a flatbed, a lifting plan ensures everyone understands their role and how to complete the lift safely.

LOLER Regulation Planning individual lifting operations: 

The planning of individual routine lifting operations may be the responsibility of those who carry them out (eg a slinger or crane operator). But for much more complex lifting operations (eg a tandem lift using multiple cranes), a written plan should be developed by a person with significant and specific competencies - adequate training, knowledge, skills and expertise - suitable for the level of the task.

For straightforward, common lifting operations, a single initial generic plan may be all that is required (eg fork-lift trucks in a factory), which could be part of the normal risk assessment for the activity. However, from time to time it may be necessary to review the plan to make sure that nothing has changed and the plan remains valid. Routine lifting operations which are a little more complex may, depending on the circumstances, need to be planned each time the lifting operation is carried out.

The plan for any lifting operation must address the foreseeable risks involved in the work and identify the appropriate resources (including people) necessary for safe completion of the job.