What action should be taken during a power outage in lifting operations?

• A. Notify emergency services and wait outside the area
• B. Move the crane to another area to avoid outage
• C. Lower the load if safe to do so, secure the area, and resume operations only after power is restored and crane is inspected for safety
• D. Increase load to test stability before power returns

Answer: (C)

When a power outage hits during lifting, the immediate danger is loss of control over the crane’s electrical systems and brakes, which can allow the load to drift, swing, or drop. The safest course is to lower the load if it can be done safely, secure the area to keep people clear, and only resume lifting after power is restored and the crane has been inspected for safety. Lowering the load reduces potential energy and stabilizes the system so a drift or drop won’t cause harm. Securing the area prevents unauthorized access during the period when the crane’s safeguards may not be reliable. Waiting to resume until after power returns and a thorough inspection confirms that all safety devices, brakes, motors, and controls are functioning ensures the crane won’t unexpectedly move when powered up again. Moving the crane to another area, increasing the load, or testing stability during an outage introduce new risks and do not address the fundamental need to bring the system back to a known safe condition.