Crane and lift supervisor training
Lift Supervisor Course
A lift supervisor course, often called crane supervisor training, is for the person who controls a lifting operation on the day. The appointed person writes the plan; the lift supervisor makes sure the plan is followed, briefs the team, checks the set-up and has the authority to stop the lift if something changes.
Logan Plant Training can discuss lift supervisor training for your team across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and North-East Scotland. The scheme, category and course length are confirmed with you before booking.
Crane supervisor requirements
BS 7121 sets out a clear structure of roles for every lift, and the crane supervisor is one of them. The supervisor must understand the lift plan, be competent in lifting operations and have the authority to direct the lift team. The standard does not tie the role to one card, but clients and principal contractors usually ask for evidence of training.
- Understanding and following the appointed person's lift plan
- Briefing the operator, slinger/signaller and anyone else involved
- Checking the crane set-up, ground and exclusion zone before lifting
- Watching weather and site conditions throughout the lift
- Stopping the lift and referring back when the plan no longer fits
What the course covers
The course is practical and site-based in outlook. Candidates learn to read a lift plan critically, carry out a pre-lift briefing, check lifting accessories and their thorough examination records, confirm communication between the signaller and operator, and recognise when conditions mean the lift should not go ahead. Common failure points, such as the wind limit being set in the plan but nobody on site being given the authority to call it off, are covered directly.
How to become a crane supervisor
Most crane supervisors come up through lifting work, often as experienced slinger/signallers or operators, before taking on the supervisory role. Hands-on lifting experience makes the course far more useful, because supervision is about spotting problems the candidate already understands. A typical path is slinger/signaller training, time on lifting operations, then a lift supervisor course, with appointed person training later for those who move into planning.
Supervising the whole lift team
A supervisor is only as effective as the team around them. We also run banksman slinger, mobile crane and crane driver training, so the supervisor and the people they direct can be trained to the same standard.
Before you book
Tell us who the candidates are, what lifting they supervise now and which machines are used: mobile cranes, lorry loaders, telehandlers used for lifting, or excavators lifting with a suitable accessory. It also helps to know whether your lifts are mostly routine or include non-routine and complex lifts, because that shapes how much of the course focuses on reviewing plans and making stop-or-go decisions. We then confirm the scheme, category and length with you before any date is set.
Lift Supervisor Course questions
- Is a lift supervisor the same as a crane supervisor?
- In most cases yes. BS 7121 uses crane supervisor for crane lifts, and lift supervisor is widely used for the same role across other lifting equipment.
- Do I need slinger/signaller experience first?
- It is strongly recommended. Supervisors who have rigged and signalled lifts themselves understand what they are checking.
- Can the appointed person also supervise the lift?
- Yes, on smaller lifts one competent person can hold both roles, as long as they are competent for each.
- How long is a lift supervisor course?
- It depends on the scheme and the candidate's experience, and is confirmed when you book.
Related training
Need this training for you or your team?
Tell us what you need using the form, or call Chris on 07867 933 018.