How should outriggers be positioned to maintain stability during a lift?

• A. Fully extended and square to the direction of lift with solid, level contact; use pads or cribbing on soft ground
• B. Retracted to minimize footprint; placed diagonally
• C. Only partially extended toward the load; no pads
• D. Place them anywhere as long as the crane is level

Answer: (A)

Outriggers create a wider, more stable base for the crane by transferring the load to the ground. To keep the lift stable, they should be extended fully and positioned square to the direction of the lift. This gives the largest, symmetric footprint and keeps the crane’s weight balanced so the risk of tipping is minimized as the load is raised or moved. Ground contact must be solid and level; on soft ground, use pads or cribbing to spread the load and prevent sinking or shifting.

Retracting the outriggers reduces the base width and increases tipping danger. Placing them diagonally or only partially extended toward the load creates uneven support and can destabilize the system. And saying they can be placed anywhere as long as the crane is level ignores the need for a wide, stable base.