How can you verify the load weight before lifting?

• A. Guess based on visual size.
• B. Check the load’s tag or manifest, verify with the spotter or supervisor, and compare against the crane’s load chart for the current configuration.
• C. Weigh the load on a scale attached to the hook during lift.
• D. Use the crane’s speed to infer weight.

Answer: (B)

Knowing the exact load weight before lifting is essential because a crane’s capacity isn’t fixed—it depends on the rigging and geometry of the lift. The best way to verify weight is to use documented data: read the load’s tag or manifest to obtain the stated weight, have the spotter or supervisor confirm that figure, and then compare it against the crane’s load chart for the current configuration (boom length and angle, radius, counterweight, and any lifting attachments). This cross-check ensures the planned lift stays within safe limits for the crane you’re using, given how the system’s capacity changes with geometry and rigging.

Relying on visual size is not reliable because loads can vary in density and packaging, and appearance doesn’t reveal actual weight. Weighing the load on a scale attached to the hook during lift is not a standard, dependable method and can be impractical or unsafe. Inferring weight from the crane’s speed is inaccurate, as speed is influenced by many factors other than load weight.