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Mobile Crane Lift Plan Template
A free, editable mobile crane lift plan template for UK operations — aligned with LOLER 1998, BS 7121-1:2016 and BS 7121-3, with the sections crane plans live or die by: outrigger loading, ground bearing, duty chart verification and slew clearances. Prepared by a CPCS A61 Appointed Person. Need it written for you with a site visit? Our mobile crane lift plan service covers that.
Before You Start: Crane Hire or Contract Lift?
This template is for organisations working under CPA crane hire conditions — where you hire the crane and operator, and your organisation must supply the Appointed Person, plan the lift and carry the lifting risk. If you have bought a contract lift, the crane company plans the operation and provides this document; you should be reviewing their plan, not writing your own.
And a straight answer most template pages avoid: mobile crane operations are rarely Basic lifts. Ground, access, configuration and loads change on every site, which is why BS 7121 practice treats most mobile crane work as Standard or Complex — needing a site-specific plan from a competent Appointed Person. Use this template for genuinely routine, repeat operations within your competence; use a professional for everything else. Our guide on when you need a lift plan draws the line in detail.
Download the Template
An editable Word document (.docx) you can customise with your company details and reuse. Fifteen sections from lift categorisation and contract basis through outrigger loading to a signed briefing record. Genuinely free — no email address, no software trial.
Mobile Crane Lift Plan — LOLER 1998, BS 7121-1 & -3 Aligned
Built around the same structure we use for professional crane plans, including the crane-specific checks that generic templates miss.
What's Included:
- ✓ Lift categorisation + crane hire vs contract lift basis
- ✓ Crane configuration and duty chart reference
- ✓ Outrigger loads, mat sizes and ground bearing check
- ✓ Gross load including hook block and rigging
- ✓ Capacity verification at worst-case radius (% utilisation)
- ✓ Slew, tail-swing and power line clearances (GS6)
- ✓ CPCS personnel roles (A61, A62, operator, A40)
- ✓ Wind limits, lift sequence, emergency arrangements
- ✓ Briefing / sign-off record
Suitable For:
- • Routine, repeat crane operations under crane hire
- • Documenting Basic-category lifts
- • Reviewing a crane company's contract lift plan
- • Training and toolbox talk material
- • Any crane make — Liebherr, Grove, Tadano, Kato
The Four Checks That Decide a Crane Plan
From independently checking subcontractor crane plans, these are the sections that most often fail review — get these right and the rest usually follows.
Ground bearing vs outrigger load
The single most consequential check. Maximum outrigger load (from manufacturer data, not guesswork) divided by mat area must not exceed the allowable bearing capacity — confirmed with the principal contractor or temporary works coordinator where ground is uncertain, made-up or near excavations.
The right duty chart
Capacity depends on the exact configuration: boom length, counterweight fitted, outrigger spread (full vs intermediate), and whether a fly jib is rigged. Quoting the headline crane capacity instead of the chart figure for the actual configuration is an instant rejection.
Gross load honesty
Hook block, hoist rope allowance and every accessory count against chart capacity. Two tonnes of block and rigging on a tight pick is the difference between 78% and 95% utilisation.
Worst-case radius
Verify at the maximum radius the operation could reach — including the set position and any repositioning — not the flattering pick radius. If the operator might need another metre, plan for it now.
Important Notes
Most Crane Lifts Need More Than a Template
We say this against our own download: mobile crane operations are rarely Basic lifts, and a template completed without genuine competence will not survive a principal contractor's review. For Standard and Complex lifts use our professional mobile crane lift plan service — site visit included, typically £250–£500. See what lift plans cost for full pricing.
Regulatory Compliance
Designed to satisfy the planning requirements of LOLER 1998 and align with BS 7121-1:2016 and BS 7121-3 for mobile cranes. Compliance depends on the competence of the person completing the plan and the accuracy of the configuration, load and ground information entered. Crane plans submitted to principal contractors are routinely independently checked before lifting is approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every mobile crane lift need a written lift plan?
In practice, yes. LOLER 1998 requires every lifting operation to be properly planned by a competent person, and mobile crane work is rarely routine — the standing position, ground conditions, configuration and loads change site to site. UK industry practice under BS 7121 treats most mobile crane operations as Standard or Complex lifts requiring a site-specific written plan prepared by an Appointed Person.
What is the difference between crane hire and a contract lift?
Under CPA crane hire conditions, you hire the crane and operator but YOUR organisation must supply the Appointed Person, plan the lift and carry the lifting risk. Under a CPA contract lift, the crane company plans the operation, supplies the Appointed Person and carries the principal risks. If you are completing this template yourself, you are operating under crane hire — make sure you genuinely have the competence LOLER requires.
What must a mobile crane lift plan include?
The crane details and configuration (boom length, counterweight, outrigger spread) with the exact duty chart, outrigger loads and ground bearing verification with mat sizes, the gross load including hook block and rigging weight, capacity verification at the worst-case radius with percentage utilisation, slew and tail-swing clearances, proximity hazards including power lines (HSE GS6), named CPCS personnel (AP, crane supervisor, operator, slinger), wind limits, the lift sequence, and a signed briefing record.
Why must the hook block be included in the load calculation?
Crane duty charts state gross capacity — and the hook block, hoist rope allowance and all rigging count against it. A 110-tonne crane with a 1.2-tonne hook block and 800kg of rigging has 2 tonnes less available capacity than the chart number at that radius. Omitting the hook block is one of the most common errors found when lift plans are independently checked.
When should I use a professional instead of this template?
Use a professional Appointed Person whenever the lift is Standard or Complex: near-capacity picks, poor or unverified ground, restricted sites with slew limitations, lifts near power lines or over occupied areas, tandem lifts, or whenever a principal contractor must approve the plan. A professional mobile crane lift plan with a site visit typically costs £250 to £500 — a fraction of one hour of crane standing time lost to a rejected plan.
Need it written with a site visit? Mobile crane plans £250-£500, 3-5 days
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