Standard crane hand signals

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, the standard hand signal for STOP is extending one arm horizontally to the side with the palm down and swinging the arm back and forth; this is the official STOP signal per 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Use this signal to stop crane motion immediately when it is safe to do so.
• For an emergency, use the EMERGENCY STOP signal (both arms; see the appendix).

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, STOP is signaled with one arm extended horizontally, palm down, swung back and forth, while EMERGENCY STOP uses both arms extended horizontally, palms down, swung back and forth, to indicate a more urgent need to halt operations as described in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• STOP (one arm) is used for routine halting of movement.
• EMERGENCY STOP (both arms) is reserved for immediate danger that requires all motions to stop at once.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, the HOIST signal is given by extending the upper arm to the side, pointing the forearm and index finger straight up, and making small circles with the hand and finger, indicating the load should be raised as specified in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Use this when you want the crane operator to lift the load vertically.
• If you want the auxiliary hoist (whipline), follow the USE AUXILIARY HOIST signal first (see appendix).

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, LOWER is signaled by extending the arm with the index finger pointing down and making small circles with the hand and finger, indicating the load should be lowered as detailed in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Use this to lower the load slowly and steadily.
• If you want to lower the boom (not the load), use the LOWER BOOM signal (thumb down; see appendix).

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, RAISE BOOM is signaled by extending the arm horizontally to the side with the thumb pointing up and other fingers closed; this moves the crane’s boom upward and is different from HOIST, which raises the load using the hoist drum, as shown in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• RAISE BOOM (thumb up) changes the boom angle/position.
• HOIST (index finger up making circles) raises the load on the hoist line without changing boom angle.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, LOWER BOOM is signaled by extending the arm horizontally to the side with the thumb pointing down and other fingers closed, which moves the boom down; this differs from LOWER (index finger circling down) that lowers the load on the hoist, as described in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• LOWER BOOM changes boom elevation.
• LOWER reduces the hoist line to lower the suspended load.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, SWING means to rotate the boom or crane in the direction indicated and is performed by extending the arm horizontally and pointing the index finger in the direction the boom is to swing, per 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Point clearly in the direction of intended swing (left, right, forward, etc.).
• Combine with other signals (hoist/raise/lower) only when safe and clear to the operator.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, EXTENDED TELESCOPING BOOM is signaled by placing both hands in front at waist level with thumbs pointing outward, while RETRACT TELESCOPING BOOM is signaled by placing both hands in front at waist level with thumbs pointing toward each other, per 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• These signals specifically control telescoping boom sections.
• Keep hands at waist level and make the thumb positions clear and steady.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, DOG EVERYTHING means to secure or lock all controls and is signaled by holding the hands together at waist level, indicating that motions should be stopped and controls secured as defined in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Use when you want the operator to lock out movement or hold position.
• Useful during rigging checks or when leaving the crane unattended temporarily.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, TROLLEY TRAVEL is signaled by extending the arm with the palm up, fingers closed and thumb pointing in the direction of trolley motion, and jerking the hand horizontally in that direction, as specified in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Use this to move the trolley along the boom or bridge.
• Make the jerking motion clearly toward the desired travel direction.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, TRAVEL/TOWER TRAVEL is signaled by extending the arm horizontally and making a pushing motion by moving the arm out and back while all fingers are pointing up, indicating crane travel in the direction pushed as shown in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Use the pushing motion toward the intended direction of travel.
• Ensure area is clear before initiating travel.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, CRAWLER CRANE TRAVEL for both tracks is signaled by rotating the fists around each other in front of the body; rotation away from the body indicates travel forward and rotation toward the body indicates travel backward, in accordance with 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Make the direction of rotation clear so the operator knows forward vs. backward.
• Use a steady, visible motion to avoid confusion.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, to indicate crawler crane travel using one track (i.e., to lock one track), raise a fist in front of the body in the direction that the other track is to travel, per 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• The raised fist shows which track should be locked while the other track moves.
• Point clearly toward the side corresponding to the track to be locked.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, USE AUXILIARY HOIST (whipline) is signaled by bending the arm at the elbow with the forearm vertical and tapping the elbow with the other hand, after which you give the regular hoist or lower signal for the desired action, per 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Give the auxiliary hoist indicator first, then the hoist/lower signal so the operator knows which drum to use.
• Repeat or confirm if visibility is poor.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, USE MAIN HOIST is signaled by tapping the top of the head with the hand, and then giving the regular hoist or lower signal to indicate the desired action on the main hoist, as stated in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Tap the head first, then give the lift/lower motion to identify the main hoist.
• Use this when switching from auxiliary hoist to the main hoist.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, MOVE SLOWLY is indicated by placing a hand in front of the hand that is giving the action signal, which tells the operator to perform the requested movement at reduced speed as described in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Hold the slow-motion hand clearly in front so the operator sees the speed modifier.
• Use with any action signal (hoist, lower, swing, travel) to require cautious movement.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, LOWER THE BOOM AND RAISE THE LOAD is signaled by extending the arm horizontally with the thumb pointing down while opening and closing the fingers as the load movement is desired, whereas RAISE THE BOOM AND LOWER THE LOAD uses the thumb up with fingers opening and closing; both are defined in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Thumb down + fingers opening/closing: lower boom while hoisting load.
• Thumb up + fingers opening/closing: raise boom while lowering load.
• Use finger motion only during the actual movement desired.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, RAISE THE BOOM AND LOWER THE LOAD is signaled by extending the arm horizontally with the thumb pointing up while opening and closing the fingers during the desired load movement, as specified in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• The thumb up indicates boom movement upward while the fingers opening/closing command the load to move as needed.
• Keep movements deliberate and only use during coordinated operations.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, MOVE SLOWLY modifies TROLLEY or TRAVEL by placing a hand in front of the hand giving the trolley or travel action signal, indicating the operator should carry out the trolley or travel movement at reduced speed, per 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Place the slow-hand clearly between the operator and the action signal so it’s read as a speed modifier.
• Confirm the operator acknowledges the slow-motion modifier when working in tight or crowded areas.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, to move the trolley the signal is to extend the arm with the palm up, fingers closed and thumb pointing in the direction of motion, then jerk the hand horizontally in that direction; perform this jerk toward the direction you want the trolley to travel as outlined in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• The short, sharp jerk conveys immediate trolley movement.
• Repeat or combine with MOVE SLOWLY if a slow trolley move is required.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, the USE AUXILIARY HOIST signal (elbow tapped) must be given before the regular hoist or lower action signal so the operator knows to use the auxiliary (whipline) drum for the subsequent hoist command, according to 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Give the auxiliary indicator first, then immediately follow with the hoist/lower signal.
• This sequence prevents accidental use of the wrong hoist drum.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, to signal MOVE THE LOAD SLOWLY during combined maneuvers, place the slow-motion hand in front of the hand giving the primary action signal so the operator understands both the action (swing/lower) and that it must be done slowly, as stated in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Use a steady slow modifier clearly in the operator’s line of sight.
• Combine with verbal confirmation if visibility or noise makes signals hard to see.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, DOG EVERYTHING is signaled by holding the hands together at waist level and directs the operator to secure or lock crane controls and stop motion, consistent with 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• The operator should stop all movements and secure the controls when safe.
• Use DOG EVERYTHING during rigging checks or when leaving the crane in a holding position.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, when directing both boom movement and hoist movement simultaneously, use the combined boom-thumb signal (thumb up or down) while opening and closing the fingers to indicate the load movement, following the combined-movement signals in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Thumb position controls boom direction (up/down); finger motion controls hoist movement.
• Make motions deliberate, continuous only while the load is to be moved, and stop when the finger motion stops.

Under 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A, USE MAIN HOIST is indicated by tapping the top of the head and then giving the regular hoist or lower signal so the operator uses the main hoist for the requested action, as described in 1926 Subpart CC Appendix A.

• Tap the head first to identify main hoist, then perform the hoist/lower motion.
• Confirm visibility of the head tap before initiating the hoist action.