What action should be taken if wind conditions exceed manufacturer limits or site policy during crane operations?

• A. Suspend lifts.
• B. Proceed with lifts at reduced speed.
• C. Increase counterweight.
• D. Move the crane indoors and continue.

Answer: (B)

Wind conditions beyond what the crane and site allow create a real danger from wind forces on both the crane and the suspended load. When gusts or sustained winds exceed the specified limits, the risk of load swing, crane tipping, or rigging failure increases dramatically, so the safest move is to suspend all lifts and stop operations until conditions return to within limits. Proceeding with lifts at reduced speed might seem like a mitigation, but it doesn’t remove the wind’s unpredictable and potentially rapid changes, nor does it address the risk of sudden gusts that can overcome a reduced-speed movement. Increasing counterweight won’t help with wind loading and can introduce other stability issues. Moving the crane indoors and continuing isn’t universally feasible and may not fully eliminate wind risk or comply with site policy. The priority is to halt operations, reassess weather conditions, and resume only when it’s safe again.