CITB Form Explained — Plus a Free Editable Alternative
The GC14 Lift Plan Form, Explained
GC14 is the CITB lift plan form most UK site managers recognise — and most websites offering it either charge for a free document or hand you a blank form with no guidance. This page explains what GC14 is, how a CPCS A61 Appointed Person actually completes each section, and gives you a free editable Word alternative with no signup.
What is GC14?
GC14 is a blank lift plan form published by CITB (the Construction Industry Training Board) as part of its GE700 Construction Site Safety publication. It provides a structured format for recording the plan for a lifting operation — equipment, load, lifting accessories, ground conditions, hazards and personnel — and it is one of the most widely recognised lift plan formats on UK sites.
Two things GC14 is not: it is not mandatory (LOLER 1998 Regulation 8 requires competent planning, not a particular form — see our guide to what a lift plan is), and it is not guidance. The form tells you what to record, not how to plan the lift. A blank GC14 completed by someone without the competence LOLER requires is not a lift plan — it is paperwork.
The official form is CITB copyright, so we do not rehost it here. You can find the original PDF on citb.co.uk. Be wary of third-party "form filler" websites offering GC14 downloads — several wrap the same free CITB form behind paid subscriptions while adding no guidance.
Completing a GC14-Style Lift Plan — Appointed Person Guidance
Whatever format you use — GC14 or any equivalent — these are the sections that decide whether the plan passes a principal contractor's review. Guidance from reviewing hundreds of subcontractor submissions:
Lift details & categorisation
Identify the operation precisely and categorise it (Basic / Standard / Complex under BS 7121). The category drives everything else — under-categorising a lift is the fastest route to rejection.
Lifting appliance
Make, model and exact configuration — boom length, counterweight, outriggers or stabilisers. State the duty chart used and confirm the thorough examination certificate is current (LOLER Reg 9). Missing or expired certs are a top-three rejection cause.
Load & gross load
Weight with its source (weighed, documented or calculated), dimensions, centre of gravity, lift points — and the gross load including every lifting accessory. Forgetting accessory weight is the most common calculation error we see.
Lifting accessories
Schedule every sling, shackle and beam with its WLL, ID and examination date. Accessories need thorough examination at least every 6 months.
Radius & capacity verification
Rated capacity at the maximum working radius against gross load, expressed as percentage utilisation. Plan for the worst-case radius, not the best. Keep utilisation at or below 80% for routine lifts unless explicitly justified.
Ground, hazards & exclusion zones
Ground bearing capacity and matting at the standing position; services, voids and excavations; overhead lines, structures and the public; exclusion zone arrangements with named enforcement.
Personnel & communications
Named Appointed Person, lift supervisor, operator and slinger/signaller with card numbers — plus the communication method. Anonymous role boxes get questioned; named, carded people do not.
Procedure, briefing & sign-off
A step-by-step lift sequence, emergency arrangements, and a briefing record every involved person signs. An unsigned plan is treated as an unbriefed plan.
A Free, Editable GC14-Style Alternative
CITB publishes GC14 as a PDF. If you want an editable Word document covering the same ground — with the BS 7121 lift categorisation built in — download our original template. Free, no email, reusable across projects.
| Option | Cost | Format | Guidance included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official CITB GC14 | Free (via CITB) | PDF (blank form) | None — recording form only |
| Third-party form-filler sites | Paid subscription | Online editor | None — same CITB form, paywalled |
| RMT generic lift plan template | Free, no signup | Editable Word (.docx) | Completion notes + this page, by a CPCS A61 AP |
GC14 Questions, Answered
What is the GC14 lift plan form?
GC14 is a blank lift plan form published by CITB (the Construction Industry Training Board) as part of its GE700 Construction Site Safety publication. It gives a structured format for recording a lifting operation plan — the lift details, equipment, load, lifting accessories, ground conditions, hazards and personnel. It is a recording form, not guidance: it does not tell you how to plan the lift, and it must be completed by a competent person.
Is the GC14 form mandatory for lift plans in the UK?
No. No specific form is mandatory. LOLER 1998 Regulation 8 requires every lifting operation to be properly planned by a competent person, but it does not prescribe a format. GC14 is one widely recognised format; bespoke formats from Appointed Persons and crane companies are equally acceptable provided they address all the risks of the operation. Principal contractors accept any competent, complete format.
Where can I download the official GC14 form?
The official GC14 form is published by CITB within its GE700 Construction Site Safety materials, and CITB hosts a PDF copy on citb.co.uk. Beware of third-party form websites that wrap the same CITB form behind paid subscriptions — the original is CITB copyright, and paying a US form site to download a UK training body form adds nothing.
Can I get a GC14-style lift plan template in Word?
CITB publishes GC14 as a PDF rather than an editable Word document. If you want an editable template covering the same ground, our free generic lift plan template is an original Word document structured the same way — lift details and sign-off, categorisation, equipment, load, accessories with WLLs, radius and capacity verification, ground conditions, hazards, personnel, procedure and briefing record — aligned with LOLER 1998 and BS 7121, with no email signup.
Who can complete a GC14 lift plan form?
The same competence rules apply regardless of the form used: under LOLER 1998 the plan must be prepared by a competent person with adequate training, knowledge and experience. For Basic lifts that may be a competent site supervisor; for Standard and Complex lifts UK industry practice expects a CPCS A61 Appointed Person to prepare or approve the plan.
Rather have it written by the Appointed Person? Plans from £200, 24-48h turnaround
07803 8080933 fields, 30 seconds. We reply within 24 hours.