To lift personnel, the crane must be level within what percent and not exceed what percent of rating?

• A. Within 1%, and not exceed 50% of rating
• B. Within 2%, and not exceed 60% of rating
• C. Within 0.5%, and not exceed 40% of rating
• D. Within 5%, and not exceed 70% of rating

Answer: (A)

When lifting personnel, you must create a strong safety margin by controlling both the crane’s orientation and the load. Keeping the crane level within 1% ensures the hoist line remains effectively vertical, which minimizes lateral forces on the drum and structure. If the crane is even slightly out of level, side loading and unexpected tipping or swinging can occur, jeopardizing the suspended worker.

Limiting the load to 50% of the crane’s rated capacity provides a generous buffer for dynamic effects—worker movement, sway, wind, and any small misjudgments in rigging or radius. Personnel lifts introduce more uncertainty, so operating at a lighter fraction of capacity helps prevent overload conditions and maintains stability.

So, the correct guideline is to keep the crane level within 1% and not exceed 50% of its rated capacity when lifting personnel. If these conditions can’t be met, a different approach or equipment should be used to ensure safety.