Guest Perspective
Lift Directors
They cover all aspects of the job, including overhead and underground hazards and environmental conditions that may arise during the project.
• Supervising lifting: Lift directors monitor crews when cranes are in use. They must remain on the jobsite during lifting operations.
• Site preparation: A lift director ensures the crane operation area is appropriately prepared before starting operations. To help alleviate the problem with unqualified people holding the role of lift director, the ASME B30 committee has proposed the following changes for the qualification requirements for lift directors in the upcoming B30.5 revision:
Lift director qualifications shall include evidence of satisfactory demonstration of the following:
• Knowledge of lifting operation hazards posed by various types of site conditions and understanding how to address them.
• Knowledge of lifting operation hazards posed by various types of weather conditions and understanding how to address them.
• Knowledge of the roles, responsibilities and qualifications required of the personnel involved in lifting operations.
• Knowledge of operational characteristics, limitations and associated hazards of applicable crane types used in lifting operations to be performed.
• Knowledge of rigging equipment, including inspection requirements, configurations, working load limits and requirements of applicable B30 volumes for the rigging used in lifting operations.
• Knowledge of signaling requirements.
• Knowledge of requirements for crane operation near electric power lines.
• Knowledge of precautions necessary when special lifting operations are present.
• Knowledge of the requirements of this volume and any federal, state and local regulations for equipment and procedures to be used in lifting operations.
• Ability to determine traffic controls and access restrictions necessary to provide a safe crane work area.
• Ability to determine appropriate personnel placement and identify potential hazards to which personnel could be exposed.
• Ability to read, write, use arithmetic and comprehend load rating chart( s).
• Ability to read, understand and discuss lift plans and associated hazards for lifting operations. A qualified lift director should take a written exam and have documentation to prove this. While these qualification requirements are in review before publication, it’ s important to stay up to date with the latest ASME B30.5 requirements. Keep an eye out for when the new standards are released.
Recent Changes in Lift Director Certification Requirements
In October 2023, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators( NCCCO) changed the number of exams required to become a certified lift director from six to two— a lift director core exam and a lift director specialty exam. The recent changes in the Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators( CCO) lift director’ s requirements aim to help professionals advance in their careers quickly while minimizing costs.
Previously, lift directors were required to complete written exams for crane operator and rigger certifications specific to their specialization. While these exams are no longer mandatory, the essential topics from those exams, including load chart calculations and understanding equipment limitations, have been integrated into the lift director specialty exams.
Candidates will still need to be versed in the same scope of information to pass the two exams and earn their lift director
CICB’ s Houston training center. certification. They must demonstrate the ability to interpret custom-designed lift plans and crane load charts through scenario-based questions with real-world scenarios.
Prospective lift directors now have one year to complete certification requirements, which is a shorter timeframe than the previous 24-month period. CCO lift directors in need of recertification will only need to complete and pass the two exams mentioned to continue in this role.
The Statistically Proven Importance of Qualified Lift Directors
ASME B30.5 includes the qualification requirements of the operator, rigger and signal person. The addition of the lift director qualifications completes the scheme for the people directly involved with the lift.
Dr. Jim Weithorn, founder of International Crane & Construction Safety Solutions, LLC, discovered in his research that there are three key things that an employer can do to reduce accidents with cranes. 1. Have a plan. 2. Have a lift director in charge of implementing the plan.
3. Have the lift director ensure that everyone involved with the plan knows their roles and responsibilities. If you have someone in the role of a lift director and they are experienced, get them evaluated and issue documentation to attest to the qualifications. When it comes to making sure lifts are directed safely, the worst thing one can do is nothing.
8 CRANE HOT LINE ® November 2024 • www. cranehotline. com