Crane Assembly & Disassembly

Assembling or taking apart a crane is among the riskiest jobs on a site. Parts are heavy, joints are unstable until finished, and crews work high up. OSHA has a special set of rules for it, and a trained person must be in charge.

• Crane Crews
• Riggers
• Operators

Who is in charge

• An A/D director must run the work. This person is qualified through knowledge, training or experience in the specific crane and process, and understands the procedures (1926.1404).
• The director must review the procedures with the crew before work begins, and make sure the crew knows its tasks and hazards.
• Crew members must understand their role and the hazards of the work.

Following the procedures

• Use the manufacturer's procedures, or an employer procedure developed by a qualified person that provides equal or better safety (1926.1403).
• Do not skip or reorder steps. The order of pin installation and boom sections matters.
• Use the right pins, bolts and fasteners, properly installed and secured. A missing or wrong pin can cause a boom collapse.
• Do not use hardware that is damaged or bent.

Setting up the work

• Level, firm ground with enough bearing; use mats and cribbing as planned. See Crane Setup
• Keep power line clearances, and verify with the line owner. See Cranes & Power Lines
• Block or support boom sections and components so they cannot move or fall while pins are removed or inserted
• Confirm weights of components and use properly rated rigging. See Rigging Basics
• Check that the area is clear of people not involved, and mark it off
• Set up communication between the director, operator and crew with agreed signals

Specific hazards

• Boom section collapse when load shifts onto unsupported pins.
• Crushing between sections, counterweights and the ground.
• Falls from the boom, tower or machine deck. Use fall protection as the rules require. See Personal Fall Arrest Systems.
• Wind that moves long, light components. Stop when wind exceeds the maker's limit.

Last updated: October 8, 2026