Lifting Operations and Equipment
Planned lifts, competent roles, equipment and accessory checks, exclusion, signalling and suspended-load hazards.
How to prepare for a CITB Specialist test
Lock in common site safety first, confirm the exact route with the card scheme, then add the relevant specialist hazards and competence boundaries.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Lifting operations must be planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely using suitable equipment.
Exam cue: Confirm the lift plan, load, accessory, safe working load and ground or support conditions.
Concept 2
Cranes, hoists and lifting accessories need identification, capacity information, checks and required thorough examinations.
Exam cue: Use the appointed signaller and agreed signals.
Concept 3
People should be kept outside the fall and swing zone and must never stand or work beneath a suspended load.
Exam cue: Stop for damaged accessories, unstable loads, unexpected snagging, weather or people entering the exclusion zone.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Using an unmarked sling because the load looks light.
Guardrail: Do not mix specialist routes or replace an engineered, competent control with a briefing, warning sign or PPE alone.
Guiding a suspended load by placing hands between it and a fixed object.
Guardrail: Do not mix specialist routes or replace an engineered, competent control with a briefing, warning sign or PPE alone.
Assuming a routine lift needs no plan or supervision.
Guardrail: Do not mix specialist routes or replace an engineered, competent control with a briefing, warning sign or PPE alone.
Memory anchors
Plan, Supervise, Lift
Every lift needs proportionate competent planning and control.
Marking Before Loading
Confirm identity, condition and safe working load before using lifting gear.
Nothing Under Suspended
Keep everyone outside the area where the load or equipment could fall or swing.
One Clear Signaller
Follow the appointed communication route and stop when signals conflict.
Hands Out of Traps
Use suitable control methods without entering pinch or crush points.
Change Means Pause
Weather, ground, load or route changes require the plan to be checked.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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