Side loads/forces acting on the crane boom or unintended load distribution Real-time information and communication for operators to ensure lift and travel is carried out in unison These incidents reveal critical areas of required understanding when planning a multi-crane lift:Īppropriate load planning for tandem lifts (more on that later) Involved multiple cranes, a few of which were profiled in the Q4 2019 issue of Lifting Matters.

“We have come across many tragic incidents from all across the world that Therefore, we are concentrating on most of the lifts that utilise mobile cranes,” said Ball. However, it is not practical in the mobile crane world. As outlined in AS 2550.1, clause 1.4.13, a synchronised motion means “Two or more crane motions under the control of a single command output with bi-directional communication so that the behaviour of one motion causes identical behaviour of the others”, which means they are electrically or mechanically connected – something that overhead and gantry cranes can achieve. “Note, we are not talking about synchronised lifts here. Upending a vertical vessel using two cranes, one at the top end and a tailing crane on the bottom end is also considered a multi-crane lift.

Put simply, a multi-crane lift are those which involve two or more cranes to support a load either with hooks attached directly to the load by slings, through shackles attached to pad eyes, or directly to an equaliser beam.

I encourage you to do your own research in this regard, but I will attempt to provide some general things to be considered when planning and executing a multi-crane lift,” he said. “Therefore, I must preface this by saying it will not be possible for me to outline the specific requirements of your local region. Guidelines differ between states and countries,” said Ball. There is also often a layer of state or local guidelines to meet, which can be at odds with national standards. The Australian Standards or international equivalents can be difficult to interpret. As an industry, we generally struggle with multiple crane lifts. Multiple crane lifts are among the most technically complex lifts to plan and execute. “It’s always important to properly plan any lift, but even more so when there are several cranes involved. When there are two or more cranes involved in an incident, the impact and outcome of the incident is often magnified. Several of the most high-profile crane accidents of recent times have been those involving multiple cranes (also referred to as tandem lifts). Kevin Ball, group safety manager for Smithbridge Group/Universal Cranes and Standards Australia Committee Member, discusses the importance of planning a multi-crane lift.

Crane lift plan calculations