Lifting Operations Toolbox Talk Template
Lifting with cranes, hoists, gin wheels and other lifting equipment can put workers and bystanders at risk if a load drops, swings or the equipment becomes unstable. Under LOLER, lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. The plan and level of supervision should reflect the complexity and risk of the operation. This toolbox talk helps the team understand the approved plan for today's lift. It cannot create that plan, select lifting gear or confirm legal thorough-examination status. HSE LOLER overview; HSE construction lifting.
A briefing before the load moves
Copyable lift briefing card
| Field | Complete for this lift |
|---|---|
| Site, work area, date/time | [ ] |
| Lift supervisor and briefing lead | [ ] |
| Load description, weight and centre-of-gravity evidence | [ ] |
| Pick-up and landing positions | [ ] |
| Current lift plan/method and revision | [ ] |
| Equipment configuration, capacity and inspection evidence | [ ] |
| Accessories/attachments and check status | [ ] |
| Operator, slinger/signaller, supervisor and communications | [ ] |
| Ground/bearing, outriggers, nearby structures and services | [ ] |
| Travel path, exclusion zone and public/other-trade control | [ ] |
| Weather/visibility/wind limits from approved plan | [ ] |
| Stop-work, emergency and handback arrangements | [ ] |
Lead's opening: “Today's load is [description] and will move from [A] to [B] under plan [reference]. Show me the load data, the lifting equipment and accessories selected by the competent planner, and who is directing the movement. No one enters the exclusion zone or stands beneath a suspended load. If the load, route, ground, weather, equipment or personnel differ from the plan, we stop and ask for competent review.”
What to discuss at the point of work
The load and path. The weight and centre of gravity must be sufficiently known for the method. Look for loose parts, awkward geometry and points where the load may snag. Walk the path and landing area. Confirm the landing is stable and that nobody needs to put hands beneath the load to position it. A generic “safe lifting” slogan is weaker than showing where the load will actually travel.
Equipment and ground. Confirm the equipment is appropriate for the configured lift and that necessary examinations/inspections and pre-use checks are current. A colour tag alone does not prove suitability for a particular load. Crane stability depends on the ground, outriggers and nearby excavations or structures. These are competent planning decisions, not items a toolbox talk can calculate. HSE highlights planning, competence, supervision and thorough examination as distinct safeguards. HSE construction lifting.
People and signals. Everyone needs to know who is operating, who is slinging and signalling, who supervises, and what the agreed communication method is. If communication fails, the lift stops. A worker who is not part of the lift must know where the exclusion zone begins. If the public or another trade can enter the route, use the approved segregation arrangement before starting.
Changes. Wind, visibility, ground conditions, a different accessory, a heavier load or a revised landing point can invalidate assumptions in the plan. Do not improvise a different lift on the same permit. The competent person should revise the plan and brief the team again. There is no universal wind speed or one-page “simple lift” definition in this template.
Ask the team
- Who planned and supervises this lift? Which version of the plan are we using?
- How do we know the load weight and that this equipment/configuration is appropriate?
- Show the pick-up, path, landing and exclusion zone.
- What is the agreed signal? What happens if the signaller loses sight or radio contact?
- What change would make you stop immediately?
Ask a person outside the lifting team to explain where they may stand. If the zone or communication is unclear, hold the lift.
Attendance and action record
| Name/role | Assigned lift role or exclusion instruction | Question/action | Acknowledgement |
|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
Pre-lift outcome: plan and controls confirmed [ ] / lift held [ ]. Action owner [ ]; resolution/competent approval [ ]; time [ ].
Example: pallet of cladding panels
A delivery arrives with a pallet heavier than the original estimate. The supervisor does not let the operator “try it and see.” The load data and lift plan are checked, the equipment configuration is reviewed by the competent planner, and the route is rebriefed. The talk has identified a mismatch, not authorised a different load. A later wind increase triggers another stop and review.
Common errors
- Treating the toolbox talk itself as the lift plan.
- Accepting a sling colour or inspection tag without checking suitability and condition.
- Focusing on the crane while ignoring landing, ground and people below.
- Allowing multiple conflicting signallers.
- Continuing after the lift assumptions change.
Source, ownership and writer-side QA
Primary sources: HSE LOLER overview; HSE construction lifting operations; HSE thorough examinations. Reviewed 6 October 2026. No capacity, wind or examination interval invented for an unspecified lift. Ownership: No dedicated lifting-operations talk in the observed live Complys toolbox hub; existing lifting risk-assessment and plan resources address different tasks. Final repository search required. Internal link/product: The live toolbox-talk hub is a candidate parent after verifying its route and product claims. Do not imply Complys calculates lift capacity, approves plans or validates examination certificates. Disposition: READY writer-side, conditional on the actual competent lift plan and final content/product/repo QA.