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ConstructionHoisting, swinging and lowering with standard signals
The beam is rigged, the area is clear and the signals are agreed. Now you guide it: off the ground, across to the structure and down to its spot, with the Standard Method hand signals, always from the operator's point of view and always ready to stop it.
Free to startScenarios
- Lifting the beam off the ground.
- Swinging the beam over to the structure.
- Bringing the beam down slowly toward its landing spot.
The steps
- Be the only person signaling the crane, standing where the operator can see you.
- Hoist: upper arm out to the side, forearm and index finger pointing straight up, hand and finger making small circles.
- If the beam is 90 percent or more of the maximum line pull, the operator first lifts it a few inches and applies the brakes to test them.
- Swing: arm extended horizontally, index finger pointing the way the boom is to swing, given from the operator's point of view.
- Keep the swing slow enough that the beam does not swing out beyond the radius where it can be controlled; a tag line keeps it from rotating if needed.
- Move slowly: place one hand in front of the hand giving the action signal.
- Lower: arm and index finger pointing down, hand and finger making small circles.
- Stop: arm extended horizontally to the side, palm down, swung back and forth; to hold every motion, dog everything with the hands together at waist level.
Safety rules that stop the station
- Only one person signals the crane at a time.
- The boom and other parts of the crane do not touch any obstruction.
To pass
- Every gesture given as the Appendix A chart draws it.
- Every direction given from the operator's point of view.
- A basic understanding of how the crane swings and stops loads and how the boom deflects when it hoists, as the qualification requires, shown in a practical test.
Official source
Federal · OSHA, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, Appendix A
Appendix A to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, Standard hand signals
GovInfo publishes Appendix A to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC free: the Standard Method gestures for hoist, lower, swing, move slowly, dog everything and stop.
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