Every safe lift starts with a plan. If you're an Appointed Person or site manager pulling together the paperwork for a contract lift, you need a lift plan template that covers the right ground without drowning the job in admin. This guide walks you through a UK lift plan example you can adapt, and shows what each field is actually for.
We plan lifts every week across construction and infrastructure sites, so this template reflects how it works on real jobs. For the wider context on how plans, surveys and method statements fit together, see our guide to lift planning and method statements.
What a lift plan is (and why it matters)
A lift plan is the written document that sets out how a lifting operation will be carried out safely. It records the load, the equipment, the site conditions, the people involved and the sequence of the lift.
Under LOLER and BS 7121, every lifting operation must be planned by a competent person. For anything beyond a basic, repetitive lift, that plan needs to be in writing.
Get it wrong and the consequences are real: dropped loads, overturned cranes, delays and HSE breaches. A clear plan removes that risk before anyone sets foot on site.
The lift plan template: field by field
Here's a lifting plan sample structured the way we use it. Copy the headings, fill in your job details, and you have a working document.
1. Project and site details
- Project name and reference
- Site address and access points
- Client and principal contractor
- Date and planned time window of the lift
2. Roles and responsibilities
- Appointed Person (AP)
- Crane Supervisor
- Crane Operator
- Slinger / Signaller
- Lift plan author and approval signature
Name a competent person against each role. On a contract lift, these responsibilities sit with the lifting contractor, not the client.
3. The load
- Description of the load
- Weight (kg), including any lifting attachments
- Dimensions and centre of gravity
- Lifting points and how the load will be attached
Always quantify. A guessed weight is one of the most common causes of a failed lift.
4. Lifting equipment
- Crane or appliance type and capacity
- Configuration and counterweight
- Radius and outreach required (in metres)
- Percentage of rated capacity being used
- Lifting accessories: slings, shackles, chains, spreader beams
5. LOLER and inspection checks
- Current thorough examination certificates for the crane and accessories
- Safe Working Load (SWL) marked and verified
- Pre-use inspection completed on the day
Confirm every item has a valid LOLER thorough examination before it goes near the load.
6. Site conditions and ground
- Ground bearing capacity and outrigger mats
- Overhead obstructions and exclusion zones
- Proximity to excavations, structures or the public
- Weather limits, including maximum wind speed
7. Method statement and sequence
- Step-by-step sequence of the lift
- Communication method between operator and signaller
- Landing area and how the load will be set down
- Emergency and rescue arrangements
8. Risk assessment and controls
- Identified hazards
- Likelihood and severity
- Control measures for each hazard
- Residual risk rating
A worked lift plan example
To show how the template comes together, here's a short lift plan example for a straightforward job.
- Load: precast concrete panel, 3,200 kg
- Crane: lorry loader, rated capacity checked against radius
- Radius: 6 metres, working at roughly 70% of rated capacity
- Accessories: two-leg chain sling, certified and inspected
- Ground: compacted hardstanding, outrigger mats deployed
- Sequence: rig, test lift at 300 mm, confirm balance, lift, slew, land on prepared bearers
- Wind limit: stop work above the manufacturer's stated maximum
Every figure here is checked, not assumed. That's the difference between a plan and a formality.
Contract lift or CPA hire: which plan applies?
The plan changes depending on how you procure the lift.
- Contract lift: the lifting contractor takes responsibility for planning, supervision and insurance. They provide the lift plan and appoint the AP.
- CPA (contract plant-hire): you hire the crane and operator, but planning and supervision stay with you.
If you're not set up to appoint a competent AP in-house, a contract lift keeps that responsibility with the people running the lift.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Copying an old plan without updating the site conditions
- Recording an estimated load weight instead of a confirmed one
- Skipping the ground bearing check
- Leaving roles unnamed or filled by non-competent people
- Forgetting to check LOLER certificate dates
A template speeds you up, but it doesn't think for you. Review every field against the actual job.
Put your lift plan into safe hands
A good template gets you started. A competent Appointed Person and a compliant, well-planned lift gets the job done safely and on schedule.
If you'd rather hand the planning to a team that does this daily, we can produce the lift plan, appoint the AP and run the lift under a full contract. You stay focused on the build; we keep the lift safe and on time.
