How should weather-induced wind gusts be handled during crane operations?

• A. Cease lifting if gusts exceed policy or create unsafe conditions; stabilize the crane, lower the load, and postpone until conditions improve or re-plan
• B. Increase lift height to test gusts
• C. Ignore gusts if the load is light
• D. Only suspend if gusts are extreme and unstoppable

Answer: (A)

Weather gusts create sudden, unpredictable lateral forces on the crane and its load, causing rapid sway that can lead to loss of control or contact with people and nearby equipment. The best course is to stop lifting when gusts exceed the established policy or when they make conditions unsafe. Stabilize the crane, lower the load to a safe height, and postpone or re-plan the lift until winds subside or a safer plan is devised. This approach keeps the system within known safe operating limits and reduces the risk of dynamic overload and uncontrolled movement.

Increasing lift height to test gusts invites greater sway and higher risk, since higher loads are harder to control in gusty conditions. Ignoring gusts because the load is light is unsafe, because even small loads can swing violently in gusts and strike hazards can occur. Suspending only for extreme gusts ignores the hazard present at lower gust levels and the potential for wind conditions to change; acting at the wind threshold is essential for safety.