Under 29 CFR 1926.751, any lift over what percentage of a crane's rated capacity is considered a critical lift?

• A. 50 percent
• B. 60 percent
• C. 75 percent
• D. 90 percent

Answer: (C)

Critical lifts are lifts that require extra planning because the load is near the crane’s capacity, leaving little margin for error. The rated capacity is the maximum safe load for a given crane setup (radius, boom length, outriggers, etc.). When the load reaches about three-quarters of that capacity, any dynamic effects—such as crane movement, wind, rigging stretch, or a small miscommunication—can push the system toward instability or overload. That's why this level is treated as a critical lift under 29 CFR 1926.751, triggering a formal critical lift plan, supervision by a qualified person, and heightened precautions like more thorough rigging, additional personnel, or even a different crane configuration. Lifts below this threshold follow standard procedures with routine checks, and the other percentages listed aren’t used as the critical-lift trigger in this regulation.