Crane Lift Plan Template
Fast-Fact Summary Box
- Template Type: Operational Safety & Engineering Protocol
- Governing Framework: OHSA, O. Reg. 213/91 Hoisting Controls
- Target Trade: Crane, Rigging & Structural Contractors
- Primary Operational Risk: Load chart verification, rigging assignment, ground bearing, and exclusion-zone control
Scope Boundaries (Who/What it applies to)
This template applies to all Crane, Rigging & Structural Contractors executing mobile, tower, or crawler crane hoisting operations on Ontario commercial, industrial, and institutional (ICI) construction projects. The scope encompasses critical lifts (defined as lifts exceeding 75% of the crane's rated capacity, tandem crane lifts, or lifts over active public or worker areas), rigging configuration design, ground bearing capacity verification, and exclusion-zone enforcement. It establishes the administrative and safety boundaries required to coordinate hoisting activities between the hoisting subcontractor, the prime contractor, and the project's structural engineering team.
Mandatory Deliverables & Administrative Windows
- Pre-Mobilisation Submission: Engineered lift plan, soil/ground bearing capacity report, and crane configuration drawings must be submitted to the constructor 10 business days prior to crane mobilisation.
- Daily Pre-Start Verification: Daily crane logbook inspection, pre-lift safety huddle records, and wind speed monitoring logs must be completed and signed off before the crane hook is unlatched.
- Active Lift Monitoring: Wind speed and ground settlement must be monitored continuously, with formal log entries recorded every 2 hours during active hoisting operations.
- Post-Lift Closeout: Post-lift inspection reports, rigging integrity sign-offs, and subcontractor progress billing submissions must be delivered within 5 business days of lift completion.
Ontario Regulatory Compliance Notes
All hoisting operations must strictly comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and O. Reg. 213/91 Hoisting Controls. These regulations dictate that load charts must be verified by a competent person, rigging must be inspected before each shift, and ground conditions must be engineered to support the maximum outrigger or crawler track loads.
Furthermore, all contract administration, invoicing, and closeout procedures associated with these hoisting services are governed by the Ontario Construction Act. Under the current legislative framework:
- Invoices are legally deemed proper unless the owner gives a formal written notice of deficiency within 7 days after receiving the invoice. Missing the 7-day notice window forfeits the right to dispute invoice form or structure and starts the 28-day prompt-payment timeline.
- For contracts extending beyond one year, owners must publish a Notice of Annual Release of Holdback (Form 6) on an electronic construction trade news website within 14 days after each contract anniversary. Payment of the accrued basic holdback must occur no earlier than day 60 and no later than day 74 after publication, provided no liens are preserved.
- The former section 27.1 notice-of-non-payment mechanism for refusing holdback distribution due to deficient or incomplete work is repealed. Holdback use is restricted to formal contract abandonment or termination scenarios and preserved lien risk.
- Parties have a strict 90-day window after contract completion, abandonment, or termination to initiate interim binding adjudication through ODACC or a qualified private adjudicator.
Form/Sign-off Requirements
- Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) Stamp: Required on the face of the lift plan for all critical lifts exceeding 75% capacity or involving tandem crane operations.
- Competent Rigger & Operator Sign-off: Daily written verification of rigging configurations, load weight calculations, and load chart compliance.
- Site Supervisor Authorization: Signed approval confirming ground bearing capacity has been verified and the exclusion zone is physically barricaded.
- Change-Order Acknowledgement: Immediate stop-work and re-evaluation signature required if lift parameters (e.g., weight, radius, wind speed) deviate by more than 5% from the approved plan.
- Record Retention: All signed lift plans, daily logs, and inspection records must be retained in the project file for a minimum of 7 years.
Official Verification Sources
- Ontario Construction Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30
- O. Reg. 304/18 (Procedures and Forms)
Raw Facts
- Governing FrameworkOHSA, O. Reg. 213/91 Hoisting Controls
- Target TradeCrane, Rigging & Structural Contractors
- Risk FactorLoad chart verification, rigging assignment, ground bearing, and exclusion-zone control