Suspended loads and pinch points cause injuries when someone is struck, crushed, or caught between moving equipment, materials, or loads. A few firm rules keep you out of the danger zone.
What Are the Key Hazards?
Most incidents come from being in the wrong place during a lift.
- Standing under or near suspended loads
- Walking through active lifting zones
- Hands or body positioned between moving objects and fixed surfaces
- Unexpected load shifts or equipment movement
What Are the Safety Rules for Suspended Loads?
These rules are not negotiable around a lift.
- Never stand or walk under a suspended load, with no exceptions
- Establish exclusion zones around lifting operations
- Stay visible to the operator at all times, or remain outside the work area
- Use tag lines to control loads, never your hands
- Inspect rigging and lifting gear before each use
- Stop the lift immediately if anyone enters the danger zone
How Do You Avoid Pinch Points?
Keep your body out of the spots where things come together.
- Keep hands clear when guiding materials into place
- Watch where equipment, loads, and structures meet
- Maintain safe positioning when spotting or signaling
- Never place yourself between a load and a wall, equipment and a structure, or moving and fixed objects
What Are the Best Practices?
Plan and communicate before the load ever moves.
- Plan the lift before it starts
- Communicate clearly using agreed signals
- Stay alert, since loads can shift without warning
- If something feels unsafe, stop work and reassess
