Crane and Lifting Operations
Crane and lifting operations records whether tower cranes, mobile cranes or other heavy lifting equipment are used on the construction site, as declared in Construction and Erection All Risks and general liability proposal forms.
- Category
- Construction/Project
- Data type
- Yes/No
- Risk drivers
- Severity, Frequency
- Underwriting impact
- Premium, Deductible, Condition/Warranty
Typical proposal-form questions
- Are tower cranes, mobile cranes or other heavy lifting equipment used on site, and how many units are deployed?
- Are lifting operations planned or supervised by a qualified lifting/rigging engineer, particularly for tandem lifts or lifts over public areas?
- Do any lifting operations take place over occupied buildings, public roads or adjoining properties?
Evidence
- Crane erection plan and load charts
- Lifting plan / method statement for critical lifts
- Crane inspection and maintenance certificates
Why it matters for underwriting
Cranes and heavy lifting equipment introduce one of the highest-severity hazards on a construction site: a dropped load, boom collapse or crane overturn can cause catastrophic damage to the works, destroy neighbouring property and cause serious injury or fatality, particularly where lifts pass over public roads, occupied buildings or adjoining sites. Because a single crane incident can generate simultaneous property, business interruption and third-party liability losses, underwriters treat the presence and scale of lifting operations as a key driver of both the CAR/EAR and the general liability exposure, and they scrutinise how lifting is planned and supervised rather than just whether a crane is present.
Capturing the attribute and evidence
Proposal forms ask whether cranes or other heavy lifting equipment are used on site, how many units are deployed, and whether critical or tandem lifts, or lifts over occupied buildings, public roads or neighbouring properties, are planned. Underwriters expect this to be evidenced by the crane erection plan and load charts, a specific lifting plan or method statement for critical lifts prepared by a qualified lifting engineer, and current crane inspection and maintenance certificates confirming the equipment’s fitness for use.
Effect on coverage, premium and conditions
The presence of crane and lifting operations typically increases the premium and can lead to a specific deductible for losses arising from lifting activity. Insurers commonly attach conditions requiring a documented lifting plan for any critical or over-public-area lift, competent and certified crane operators and riggers, exclusion zones beneath the load path, and regular independent inspection of cranes in line with the applicable lifting equipment guidance.
Mitigation measures
Crane and lifting risk is mitigated through detailed lift planning by a qualified engineer for all critical lifts, use of certified operators and riggers, enforced exclusion zones and traffic management beneath the load path, regular statutory inspection and maintenance of the lifting equipment, and close coordination with the risk guidance on crane and lifting equipment safety.