What is the purpose of exclusion zones around a suspended load?

• A. Exclusion zones around the load path help prevent struck-by hazards and should be established and enforced.
• B. Exclusion zones are used to measure wind speed during lifts.
• C. Exclusion zones are optional and only needed for tall cranes.
• D. Exclusion zones are primarily for vehicle traffic control away from the crane.

Answer: (A)

Exclusion zones are built to protect workers from struck-by hazards created by a suspended load. When a load is lifted or moved, the load path can swing, drift, or drop if the rigging or crane shifts, or if wind or other factors affect the lift. Anyone standing in or near that path could be hit, even if they aren’t directly under the hook. Establishing a clearly marked exclusion zone creates a safe buffer that keeps people out of the area where the load could travel, and enforcing it ensures coordinated, safer work around lifts. This is about controlling access and safeguarding everyone from potential movement of the load, not about measuring wind speed, nor is it optional or primarily about vehicle traffic.