Yes — every lifting operation must be planned by a competent person under LOLER, and on a construction site that planning is expected in writing. Simple repetitive lifts can be covered by a generic plan plus a site-specific brief; anything involving a crane, multiple appliances, tandem lifting, blind lifts or lifting near the public needs a site-specific lift plan and an appointed person.
The three levels you will hear about
- Basic lift — light, repetitive, low risk, well within the appliance's capacity. Usually a generic plan and a task brief.
- Standard lift — routine crane or telehandler work needing a site-specific written plan, method and exclusion zones.
- Complex lift — tandem lifts, blind lifts, lifting people, lifting over live areas or the public, unusual loads. Detailed plan, appointed person, and often engineering input.
What a usable lift plan contains
A lift plan is not a form-filling exercise. It should state the load weight and centre of gravity, the appliance and configuration with capacity checked against radius, the ground conditions and outrigger loadings, the rigging arrangement and accessories with their working load limits, exclusion zones, the sequence of the lift, the communication method, and who holds each role.
It should also say what stops the lift: wind speed limits, visibility, and who has the authority to call it off. If the plan does not answer "who says stop and when", it is not finished.
Who plans it
LOLER requires planning by a competent person. In practice that is an appointed person for anything beyond the simplest lift — someone with the training and experience to select equipment, check capacities and supervise the operation.
Slinger/signallers, crane supervisors and operators all have defined roles under the plan. Naming them in the document, rather than deciding on the day, is what turns a paper plan into a safe operation.
What principal contractors ask for
- The lift plan and supporting RAMS, submitted before mobilisation.
- Current thorough examination reports for the appliance and accessories.
- Competence evidence for the appointed person, supervisor, operator and slinger.
- Ground and access details, including any temporary works sign-off.