When must a trial lift run be made?

• A. Route changes
• B. Moving to a new location
• C. Shift change
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

A trial lift run is a safety check to verify that the crane, rigging, and crew can execute the planned lift safely under the current conditions. You should do one whenever anything about the lift context could differ from the previous setup. Route changes can introduce new obstacles, overhead hazards, or clearance issues that affect how the load travels. Moving to a new location brings different ground conditions, wind exposure, and nearby structures that influence stability and visibility. A shift change can bring a different operator or supervisor, which may alter communication, familiarity with the plan, or vigilance. Because any of these factors can change the risk or performance of the lift, a trial lift helps confirm that the equipment responds correctly and that the plan is still safe before lifting the actual load. So, you perform a trial lift whenever the route changes, you relocate, or there is a shift change.