Crane Lift Plan. Signed by a LEEA Appointed Person.
Every non-routine lift needs a plan. Under BS 7121 and LOLER 1998, it must be prepared by a competent person before the crane leaves the yard. We are that competent person — and the plan is signed, sealed, and defensible under audit.
Twelve pages. Every calculation shown.
Not a checklist. Not a template with your name pasted in. A real engineering document that stands up to third-party review, insurance audits, and client sign-off.
Cover & sign-off block
Plan number, revision, project reference, Appointed Person signature, LEEA certification number, applicable standards. The audit trail begins on page one.
Load data & centre of gravity
Weight verified against vendor drawings, weighing certificates, or FEA models where required. Centre of gravity plotted, lifting point loads calculated per attachment.
Crane selection & configuration
Boom length, jib, counterweight, outrigger extension. Reach diagram overlaid on site plan. Alternatives considered where the primary crane is marginal.
Load chart utilisation
Working radius, gross load, capacity from chart, utilisation percentage with Dynamic Amplification Factor applied. Utilisation capped per BS 7121 and client procedures — with margin shown.
Rigging configuration
Sling type, WLL, angle, safety factor. Shackles sized per API/ASME. Spreader beams engineered where sling angles would exceed limits. Every component certified.
Sling & rigging load calculations
Vertical component, horizontal component, tension per leg. Design factor of safety 5:1 (slings) / 4:1 (shackles) verified. Load path traced from hook to load.
Ground bearing pressure
Outrigger reaction calculated for the worst-case radius and orientation. Bearing pressure checked against ground capacity. Crane mats or piling specified where the ground would fail.
Risk assessment (BS 7121 format)
Every hazard scored Likelihood × Severity, controls listed, residual risk scored again. High residuals trigger design changes — not warning stickers.
Method statement
Step-by-step sequence: pre-lift checks, trial lift, transit path, set-down. Hold points, communication protocol, weather thresholds, exclusion zones. What good looks like at every stage.
Roles & responsibilities
Appointed Person, Lift Supervisor, crane operator, banksman, riggers. Who is authorised to stop the lift. Who signs the pre-lift check.
Approvals & references
Client sign-off block, third-party review block, standards referenced, drawings referenced. The plan is the closing document for the operation.
Delivered as PDF and native
Signed PDF for the file, native source for future revisions. Revision control on every issue.
If it isn't routine, it needs a plan.
Non-routine industrial lifts
Refinery reactors, columns, exchangers, transformers, gearboxes, generators. Anything where the crane isn't doing the exact same lift it did yesterday.
Tandem & dual-crane lifts
Two cranes on one load require a dedicated lift plan with load-share calculations, tilt limits, and synchronised control procedures. Non-negotiable.
Blind lifts & obstructed sight lines
Operator cannot see the load or landing point. Requires banksman protocol, communication procedure, and rehearsed sequence documented in the plan.
Lifts near live plant or personnel
Near energised electrical, live pipelines, occupied buildings, or public areas. Exclusion zones and emergency-stop procedures must be engineered.
Offshore & marine lifts
Rig-to-vessel, vessel-to-vessel, splash zone. DNV-ST-N001 governs. Dynamic amplification, weather windows, and vessel motion must be modelled.
Utilisation above 75%
Any lift approaching crane rated capacity is a critical lift by BS 7121 definition. Full engineered plan is mandatory — no exceptions.
Four steps. Never a template.
-
01
Brief & site data
You send load data, site drawings, and constraints. We ask the questions that matter — verified weight, lift point details, ground survey, weather envelope. Missing information is flagged immediately, not two weeks in.
-
02
Preliminary study (free)
Within 48 hours we return a crane selection, radius, utilisation, and feasibility notes. Any red flags — insufficient ground bearing, sling angle failures, radius vs. capacity conflicts — are raised at this stage while changes are still cheap.
-
03
Engineered plan
Full 12-page lift plan drafted, calculated, cross-checked, and signed. Every number traceable to a source. Every reference cited. Delivered as PDF and native for your records.
-
04
Execution support
We stay available through the lift — pre-lift toolbox review, hold-point sign-off, question response during execution. One call, one email, one WhatsApp. When the operation closes, the plan is your closing document.
Ten worked examples. Anonymised. Downloadable.
These are actual JMR lift plans, redacted of client names and locations. Download any of them to see the engineering standard we hold every plan to.
Every plan referenced. Every clause traceable.
Part 1 (general), Part 3 (mobile cranes), Part 5 (tower cranes), Part 11 (offshore). The primary reference framework for every lift plan we produce.
UK statutory instrument governing planning, competent-person requirements, and thorough examination of lifting equipment.
B30.5 (mobile cranes), B30.9 (slings), B30.10 (hooks), B30.26 (rigging hardware). The North American reference set — cross-checked where dual-code compliance is required.
Governing standard for offshore lifts, marine operations, weather-restricted operations, and lifted-object-in-water design cases.
American Petroleum Institute recommended practice for the operation and maintenance of offshore cranes.
Lifting Equipment Engineers Association guidance — the reference our Appointed Person is certified against.
Crane lift plan questions we hear most.
What is a crane lift plan?
A crane lift plan is the engineering document that authorises a lifting operation. It specifies the load, the crane, the rigging, the ground conditions, the exclusion zones, the sequence of operations, the personnel roles, and the residual risks. Under BS 7121 and LOLER 1998 it must be prepared by a competent person before any non-routine lift.
When is a crane lift plan legally required?
LOLER 1998 (UK) and BS 7121 (international) require a documented lift plan for any lifting operation that is not routine and repetitive. In practice this covers essentially all industrial, construction, and offshore lifts. The plan must be prepared by a competent Appointed Person and reviewed before the lift proceeds.
What does a JMR crane lift plan contain?
Twelve pages: cover with sign-off, scope, load data with centre of gravity, crane selection, load chart utilisation with DAF, rigging configuration, sling and rigging load calculations, ground bearing pressure, BS 7121 risk assessment (L×S), method statement, roles and responsibilities, and approvals with references.
Who signs the lift plan?
Every JMR lift plan is authored, calculated, and personally signed by Muthuraj Jeyabal, LEEA Certified Appointed Person (cert 8234-13608-8667-27-1). No ghost-signed reviews. If a project needs an on-site Lifting Supervisor or a second Appointed Person, we engage vetted certified professionals from our trusted network on a project-specific basis.
How long does a lift plan take?
Standard mobile crane lift plans in 3–5 working days from receipt of load data and site information. Complex tandem lifts, offshore lifts, and critical lifts requiring finite element checks typically take 7–14 days. Emergency turnaround is available on request.
What standards do you comply with?
BS 7121 Part 1 (safe use of cranes), LOLER 1998, PUWER 1998, ASME B30.5 and B30.9, DNV-ST-N001 for offshore lifts, API RP 2D for marine operations, and LEEA guidance for all rigging design. Our Appointed Person is LEEA-certified against the international standard.
Do you cover international projects?
Yes. JMR is an international consultancy — the founder has worked across India, Kuwait, and offshore West Africa over the last twenty years. We deliver lift plans for projects worldwide, remotely, with a 24-hour global response window.
Do you offer a free preliminary study?
Yes. Send us the load information and site constraints and we will return a preliminary crane selection, feasibility notes, and any red flags — at no cost and no obligation. If you then engage us for the full plan, the preliminary study is folded into the deliverable.
Send us the load. We'll send you the plan.
The preliminary study is free. The engineered plan is signed by a LEEA Appointed Person. And every calculation is defensible under audit.
contact@jmrlifting.com · 24-hour global response · No obligation