This document provides information on signal person training, including: - Learning objectives around understanding crane operation hazards, OSHA signal person requirements, and gaining skills to safely direct crane movements. - Signal person qualifications require documentation showing the person understands standard signals, equipment limitations, and can pass a written or practical test. - Standard hand signals must be used and understood by the operator, or alternative agreed upon signals can be used if standard signals are not feasible. - Requirements for maintaining communication between the operator and signal person, and procedures for stopping operations if communication is interrupted.

1. Signal Person
Training

2. Learning Objectives
• Understand basic hazards of signaling crane
operations
• Know OSHA Requirements for Signal Person
Qualification (CFR 1926.1428)
• Gain skills, knowledge and qualification to use
hand and radio signals to safely direct crane
movements.

3. Hazards
• Struck –by
– Crane swing creates struck-by hazard.
– Mark this area around crane (if applicable).
• Calculating Boom swing radius
– Height and load effect how far the load will swing.
– Rule of thumb: height of load is below 5’ stay at least 5’
away.
• Awareness of surroundings
– Surrounding traffic and pedestrian routes should be
marked off prior to lift.
• Calculating potential fall distance.
– Height, weight, and weather effect potential load fall
distance.

4. Signal Person Qualifications
• Employer must ensure each signal person meets
Qualification Requirements [1926.1428 (c)]
– Two Options: Third Party or Employer Qualified
Evaluator
– Documentation by Third Party or Employer
• Performance shows lack of understanding
– Retraining
– Re-assessment

5. Signal Person Qualifications
(cont.)
• Know and understand types of signals used, e.g.,
“Standard Method” for hand signals
• Be competent in the application of the type of
signals used
• Have basic understanding of equipment
operation and limitations, including crane
dynamics involved in swinging and stopping
loads and boom deflection from hoisting loads
• Know and understand relevant requirements of
CFR 1926.1419 through 1926.1422 and
1926.1428
• Oral or written test AND Practical Test

6. Signals – General
Requirements
• Signal person must be
provided:
– When operator can’t fully
view point of operation,
including load travel path or
area near/at load
placement.
– When crane is traveling and
operator can’t see direction
of travel.
– When operator or person
handling load deems
necessary.

7. Signals – General
Requirements (cont.)
• Standard Method of Hand
Signals MUST be used.
• Exception:
– Standard Method isn’t
feasible
– Operation/use of
attachment isn’t covered in
Standard Method.
• Non-standard hand
signals
– Signal person and operator
MUST meet prior to lifting
and agree on signals used

8. Signals – General
Requirements (cont.)
• New Signals
– Signals other than hand, voice or audible
signals
– Must provide equally effective
communication OR
– Comply with national consensus that
provides equally effective
communication
• Signals used (hand, voice, audible, or
new), and means of transmitting the
signals to operator (such as direct
line of sight, video, radio, etc.), must
be appropriate for site conditions.

9. Signals – General
Requirements (cont.)
• During operations requiring signals, ability to
transmit signals between operator and signal
person must be maintained.
• If ability is interrupted, operator must safely stop
operations requiring signals until it is reestablished
and proper signal is given and understood.

10. Signals – General
Requirements (cont.)
• If crane operator becomes aware of safety problem
and needs to communicate with signal person,
crane operator must safely stop operations.
• Operations must not resume until operator and
signal person agree that problem has been
resolved.
• Only one person may give signals to crane/derrick
at a time.
• Exception: Anyone aware of safety problem must
alert operator OR signal person.
• All directions given to operator by signal person
must be given from operator's direction

11. Signals – General
Requirements (cont.)
• Communication with multiple cranes/derricks
– System must be used for identifying crane/derrick each
signal is for, as follows:
• For each signal, prior to giving function/direction, signal person
must identify crane/derrick signal is for, OR
• must use an equally effective method of identifying which
crane/derrick the signal is for.

12. Radio, Telephone, Electronic
Signals
• Device(s) used to transmit signals must be tested on
site before beginning operations to ensure signal
transmission is effective, clear, reliable.
• Signal transmission through dedicated channel, except:
– Multiple cranes/derricks and one or more signal persons may
share dedicated channel for purpose of coordinating
operations.
– Where crane is operated on/adjacent to railroad tracks, and
actions of crane operator need to be coordinated with
movement of other equipment/trains on same or adjacent
tracks.
• Operator's reception of signals must be by hands-free
system.

13. Additional Req’s for Voice
Signals
• Prior to beginning operations:
– Operator and signal person, must meet and agree on
voice signals.
– Once voice signals are agreed upon, these workers
need not meet again to discuss voice signals unless
• another worker added or substituted
• there is confusion about voice signals, or
• a voice signal is to be changed.

14. Additional Req’s for Voice
Signals
• Each voice signal must contain following three
elements, given in following order:
– Function (such as hoist, boom, etc.) direction
– Distance and/or speed
– Function, stop command.
• IE: “Boom up ten feet slowly.” “Boom Stop.”
• Operator and signal person must be able to
effectively communicate in language used.

15. Hand Signal Chart
• Hand signal charts
must be either posted
on equipment or
conspicuously posted
in vicinity of hoisting
operations.

16. Mobile Crane Hand Signals

17. Hoist
• To raise the load or
hook, with the upper
arm extended to the
side, and your forearm
and index finger
pointing straight up,
make small circles with
your hand and finger.

18. Lower
• The lower the load or
hook, with the arm
and index finger
pointing straight
down, make small
circles with your hand
and finger.

19. Use Main Hoist
• To use the Main
Hoist, tap the top of
your head with one
hand. Then give the
regular signal to
direct the operator
what to do with the
Main Hoist.

20. Use Auxiliary Hoist or Whipline
• To use the Auxiliary Hoist,
also known as the Whipline,
with one arm bent at the
elbow and the forearm arm
vertical, tap the elbow with
your other hand. Then give
the regular signal to direct
the operator what to do with
the Auxiliary Hoist or
Whipline.

21. Raise Boom
• To signal the
operator to raise the
boom, with one arm
extended horizontally
to the side, point your
thumb up while your
other fingers are
closed.

22. Lower Boom
• To signal the
operator to lower the
boom, with one arm
extended horizontally
to the side, point your
thumb down while
your other fingers are
closed.

23. Move Slowly
• To signal the
operator to perform
any function slowly,
place a hand in front
or above the hand
that is signaling the
specific function.

24. Raise Boom Lower Load
• To raise the boom
and lower the load at
the same time: with
one arm extended
horizontally to the
side and your thumb
pointing up, open and
close your fingers
until you want the
load to stop moving.

25. Lower Boom Raise Load
• To lower the boom
and raise the load at
the same time: with
one arm extended
horizontally to the
side and your thumb
pointing down, open
and close your
fingers until you want
the load to stop
moving.

26. Swing
• To swing the load,
extend one arm out
horizontally and point
your index finger in
the direction you
want the boom to
swing.

27. Stop
• To stop an action,
extend one arm
horizontally out to the
side with your palm
facing down. Then
swing it back and
forth.

28. Emergency Stop
• To stop all actions due
to an emergency
situation, extend both
arms horizontally out to
the side with the palms
facing down. Then
swing them back and
forth.

29. Travel
• To signal the operator
to move or “travel” the
crane or equipment,
with all of your fingers
pointing up, extend
your arm out and back
to make a pushing
motion in the direction
you want the crane to
travel.

30. Dog Everything
• Can mean shut
everything down on
the crane or only to
pause. To signal
this, hold your hands
together at your waist
level…like you’re
shaking hands with
yourself.

31. Travel (Both Tracks)
• For crawler cranes, if you
want the operator to travel
using both tracks, rotate
both fists around each
other in front of the body.
Rotate them away from
your body to signal travel
forward. Rotate them
towards your body to
signal travel backwards.

32. Travel (One Tracks)
• For crawler cranes, if you
want the operator to travel
using only one track,
indicate which track to be
locked by raising your fist
on that side. Then rotate
other fist in front of the
body in the direction that
the other track is to travel.

33. Extend Boom
• To signal the
operator to extend
the boom, put both
hands in front of you
at waist level, point
your thumbs outward
with the other fingers
closed.

34. Retract Boom
• To signal the
operator to retract the
boom, put both
hands in front of you
at waist level, point
your thumbs towards
each other with the
other fingers closed.

35. Extend Boom (One Hand)
• To signal the
operator to extend
the boom with your
free hand, make a fist
with it, and tap your
chest with your
thumb.

36. Retract Boom (One Hand)
• To signal the
operator to retract the
boom with your free
hand, make a fist
with it, point your
thumb outwards and
tap your chest with
the heel of your fist.

37. Questions
Make sure you ask your supervisor if you have
more detailed questions.