How to Plan HIAB Lifts Safely and Efficiently

A HIAB lift can look straightforward until the lorry reaches a tight site entrance, an outrigger lands near a service cover, or the load has to pass over a live pedestrian route. Knowing how to plan HIAB lifts properly before the vehicle is dispatched protects people, property and programme. It also helps ensure the right lorry-mounted crane, operator and lifting accessories arrive first time.

For construction, maintenance, utilities and local-authority work, the best lift plans are practical documents built around the real conditions on site. They account for the load, the space available, ground conditions, people nearby and the exact method of work. A generic plan copied from a previous job rarely provides that assurance.

How to plan HIAB lifts: begin before the lorry arrives

The planning process starts with a clear brief. Establish what is being lifted, where it is collected from, where it needs to land and what has to happen immediately afterwards. A pallet of building materials placed beside a work area may be a routine operation. A generator lifted over fencing into a restricted compound, or steelwork positioned at radius beside a public highway, requires more detailed planning and closer control.

Give the lift provider accurate information as early as possible. Dimensions and weight are essential, but they are not enough on their own. The centre of gravity, lifting points, packaging, load condition and whether the item can be safely slung all affect the proposed method. If the load is unknown, damaged or has no confirmed lifting points, stop and resolve that issue before scheduling the lift.

The requested set-down position matters just as much. A load may be within the crane’s rated capacity close to the lorry, but not at the required operating radius. Reach increases as the crane slews away from the vehicle, and capacity can reduce significantly. The lift must be checked against the correct crane duty chart for the planned configuration, not estimated from a photograph or assumed from a previous delivery.

Match the lift to the site and the load

A HIAB, commonly used to describe a lorry-mounted loader crane, is an efficient solution for many deliveries and placement tasks because the vehicle and crane arrive together. That efficiency depends on choosing equipment suited to the job. The required capacity, boom reach, access restrictions, load dimensions and available set-up area all influence the selection.

A smaller vehicle may be better for a congested London street or a narrow estate road, but it may not provide the reach or capacity needed once stabilisers are deployed. A larger crane may complete the lift comfortably, yet be unsuitable if there is insufficient space for positioning, outriggers or turning. Honest guidance at this stage is more valuable than trying to make an unsuitable vehicle fit the job.

Consider the full journey, not only the lifting location. Check delivery access for height restrictions, weight limits, low branches, parked vehicles, narrow gates and weak verges. On larger sites, identify the approved route, one-way systems and reversing controls. If the lorry will need to set up on a public road, establish traffic-management requirements, permits and any restrictions imposed by the highway authority well in advance.

Assess the ground before setting outriggers

Ground assessment is one of the most critical parts of a HIAB lift plan. Loader cranes transfer substantial forces through their stabilisers. Ground that appears firm can conceal recently backfilled trenches, basements, culverts, drainage runs, inspection chambers or voids. Tarmac, block paving and grass are not automatic evidence of adequate bearing capacity.

Identify where each outrigger is likely to sit and assess what lies below the surface. Site drawings, utility information and a physical inspection can all be relevant. Where ground conditions are uncertain, the person planning the lift should obtain suitable engineering advice rather than rely on judgement alone.

Outrigger mats may be needed to spread the load, but they must be correctly sized, sound and positioned on suitable ground. Mats are not a solution for unsupported slabs, service covers or unstable ground. The planned set-up area should also be level enough for the crane to operate within the manufacturer’s limits. If the lorry cannot be positioned as planned, the operator must have authority to stop and seek a revised method.

Weather can change the ground assessment. Persistent rain can soften unmade ground, while high winds can affect the control of suspended loads and may prevent lifting within the crane manufacturer’s operating limits. Build realistic contingency into the programme, particularly for exposed sites and time-sensitive deliveries.

Define the team and their responsibilities

A safe lift relies on competent people with clear roles. The level of planning and supervision should be proportionate to the complexity and risk of the lift, in line with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and recognised lifting practice.

For more complex operations, a competent appointed person should plan the lift and specify the method, equipment and controls. A crane supervisor coordinates the operation on site, while a trained slinger/signaller attaches the load and directs the operator where required. The HIAB operator must be suitably trained, authorised and familiar with the specific vehicle and crane.

On a simple delivery, one person may hold more than one role only where this is safe, suitable and allowed by the risk assessment and lift plan. Do not assume that a site operative can guide a load because they have done it before. Communication errors are a common cause of incidents, particularly where the operator cannot see the landing area.

Agree how signals will be given before work starts. Where radios are used, test them and establish a clear instruction to stop. The operator should only act on directions from the nominated signaller, except for an emergency stop signal, which must be obeyed from anyone.

Control the lifting area, not just the crane

The lifting zone needs to be separated from normal site activity. People often focus on the suspended load but overlook the crane’s slew area, stabilisers and vehicle movements. A person walking behind an outrigger or under a boom can be exposed to serious risk even if they are outside the intended landing area.

Use barriers, cones, banksmen and signage appropriate to the site. Keep personnel clear of suspended loads and prevent anyone from passing beneath them. If the load is being placed near a building entrance, footpath or workface, coordinate the operation so the area can be temporarily closed or controlled.

Overhead hazards need equal attention. Power lines, telecoms cables, trees, roof edges and scaffold can limit crane movement or create a strike risk. Work near overhead electric lines requires particular care, with exclusion distances and controls determined by the network operator and a competent planner. Never rely on visual clearance alone.

Before the lift begins, the site team should confirm the plan is still valid. A delivery vehicle parked in the planned set-up area, newly erected scaffold or an excavation opened since the survey can change the operation completely. This short pre-lift check is where many avoidable problems are found.

Produce information people can use

The lift plan should be clear enough for the people carrying out the work to understand it. It does not need unnecessary paperwork, but it must set out the method and the controls that matter. For a planned HIAB operation, this normally includes:

• the load weight, dimensions, lifting points and intended route;
• the selected lorry-mounted crane, lifting accessories and planned operating radius;
• the set-up position, ground controls and outrigger-mat requirements;
• named responsibilities, communication arrangements and supervision;
• exclusion zones, traffic management, overhead hazards and public protection; and
• stop-work arrangements for changed conditions, poor weather or unsafe access.

Lifting accessories must also be suitable, thoroughly examined where required and checked before use. Slings, shackles, lifting beams and chains should be selected for the load and hitch arrangement, with protection used where sharp edges could damage them. Do not improvise with damaged equipment or use attachment points that have not been designed for lifting.

Plan for change and maintain control

A lift plan is not a substitute for judgement on the day. Conditions can alter between the site visit and arrival, especially on active construction projects. The operator, supervisor and site representative should be able to pause the work if access, ground, weather, load condition or public protection is not as expected.

This is where operated HIAB hire can provide valuable accountability. A certified operator brings practical familiarity with the crane, while an experienced hire team can help review access details, lifting requirements and the right vehicle before mobilisation. JBL Group supports projects across the South of England with modern equipment, certified operatives and practical advice where a lift needs more than a standard delivery.

The most effective HIAB lift plan is the one that gives the crew clear answers before the crane is set up: what is being lifted, where the lorry will stand, who controls the operation and what will stop the job. Resolve those points early, and the lift is far more likely to run safely, efficiently and to programme.