20.3 Secure the Load, Remove Rigging and Stow Equipment

Completion means an independently stable load

A lift is not complete because the load touches the destination. Securing establishes that the destination and any required bracing can support the load without continued crane tension. Derigging removes the unloaded connections through a safe sequence. Stowing protects equipment and preserves its identity for future use.

Before lowering, confirm the actual destination still matches the plan. Supports may have moved, debris may block bearing points, or another crew may have occupied the intended escape route. Stop and resolve these changes before entering the area. Do not lower onto improvised packing merely to finish the lift quickly.

The destination must accept both weight and stability demands. A tall item can tip after vertical support is achieved. A cylindrical item can roll, and a long member can rock on uneven supports. The planned restraints, chocks, braces or permanent connections must be installed through a sequence that protects the receiving workers.

Controlled landing

Use agreed signals for the final approach. Only workers needed to receive the load may be within the fall zone under OSHA 1926.1425, with the applicable conditions observed. No one should place hands beneath a descending item or between it and a fixed obstruction. Use approved tools and control methods from safe positions.

Lower smoothly to avoid impact and shifting supports. Observe all intended bearing points. If one corner lands first unexpectedly, stop and assess orientation and bearing before slackening. A load balanced while suspended may become unstable on uneven ground or incomplete supports.

Do not ask a worker to use body weight to keep an unsecured item upright. A crane hook can temporarily remain connected as the approved plan requires, but maintained tension is not evidence that the final structure is secure. Keep crane and rigging within their limits during that transitional stage.

Transfer support deliberately

Reduce lifting tension in the planned increments while observing the load and supports. Verify that the load's weight has transferred and that required restraints remain effective. If it shifts as tension decreases, stop and re-establish a safe supported condition before diagnosing the cause.

For a structural installation, the responsible erection or installation procedure determines the necessary initial connections and braces. A rigger must not substitute a visually convenient bolt for the specified connection. Confirm the designated responsible person's release instruction once the required condition is established.

A lower hoist or tailing system may still carry load even when the main hook appears slack. Unload each connection according to the force-transfer sequence. Remove a pin only after establishing that the associated component is unloaded and the connected item cannot move unexpectedly.

Remove connections without damaging them

Disconnect accessible slings, shackles and hardware using safe access and control of their own weight. Long or heavy rigging may require an approved handling method; dropped hardware can injure someone even after the payload is secure. Keep workers clear when lifting the empty rigging away.

Do not pull a sling from under a load resting on it. The cited OSHA sling rules prohibit that practice. Use the planned supports and clearance, or an approved re-lift/repositioning operation with renewed readiness checks. Jerking a trapped sling with the crane can damage both sling and load and may disturb the supposedly stable destination.

Release clamps, magnets and vacuum lifters only after support and stability are confirmed, following their specific operating sequence. Do not release several devices in arbitrary order if one still contributes restraint. Check that empty attachments cannot snag, swing into workers or collide during withdrawal.

Derigging example

A crate is landed on two supports, but the basket sling remains pinched beneath one corner. The crate appears stable and the operator is ready to hoist away. Pulling the sling free is inappropriate. Confirm the approved clearance method, reassess the crate's stability, and use a controlled supported correction. Inspect the sling for damage before returning it to service.

Post-use examination and disposition

Look for new cuts, abrasion, displaced fittings, distorted links, damaged pins, heat exposure or unreliable mechanisms. Report unusual loading, impacts and any suspected overload. Equipment that was acceptable before the lift may now need removal or additional inspection.

Separate rejected equipment from usable stock and retain its identification. Document findings and repair/test disposition under the relevant program. Do not place an untagged sling in storage and expect the next rigger to infer its capacity from an identical-looking item.

Storage preserves the next lift's reliability

Clean equipment only by permitted methods and protect it from moisture, corrosive substances, excessive heat, sunlight where relevant and physical damage. Hang or support slings without sharp bends or damaging contact. Protect textile slings from contamination and wire rope from kinking. Store heavy chain and devices so they cannot fall onto softer equipment.

Keep matched pins, wedges, links and retaining parts with their intended components. Protect threads and sealing surfaces, and follow lubrication or preservation instructions. Coil hoses and cables without crushing or damaging connectors. Record equipment returned, removed or left installed so the next lift kit is complete and traceable.

Sources: OSHA receiving-load provisions, OSHA sling handling, CCO removal and stowing topics, manufacturer equipment guidance.