Lift Director & Critical Lift Training Online (KARM Safety Solutions)
Directing a lift is more than “calling the pick.” It’s coordinating people, equipment, loads, and conditions so every move is planned, communicated, and controlled. KARM’s Lift Director & Critical Lift Training is designed to help employers prepare lift leaders to manage routine and higher-risk lifts with consistent hazard recognition, sound planning, and jobsite-ready documentation.
Whether you’re supporting crane operations, hoisting activities, or complex picks that require detailed lift planning, this course emphasizes practical skills that translate directly to the field. This 8-hour online training is designed to prepare Lift Directors and lift leads to safely plan, coordinate, and oversee crane and hoisting operations—especially those involving higher risk, complex rigging, or critical lift conditions.
The course focuses on practical decision-making, hazard recognition, and lift planning fundamentals so participants can confidently direct operations from pre-lift planning through final load placement. Topics include pre-operation inspection, equipment functions and controls (overview), stability principles, set-up considerations, outriggers and leveling, cribbing, jobsite hazards, wire rope awareness, load hooks, load handling, traveling with loads (as applicable), load ratings, load weight calculating, calculating lifting solutions, and signaling/spotting coordination.
Participants complete written knowledge verification and receive access to essential jobsite tools, including rigging weight tables, crane signal charts, a lift plan form, a jib pre-install meeting checklist, and a jib post-install inspection checklist.
Upon successful completion, participants receive a Lift Director course ID card, employer training documentation, and supporting materials to assist with internal qualification and recordkeeping requirements.Who this training is for
This training is built for:
- Lift Directors and lift leads
- Supervisors, foremen, and crew leads
- Riggers, spotters, and signal personnel
- Teams involved in planning or directing crane/hoisting operations
What the course covers
The training curriculum covers the knowledge and decision-making expected of a Lift Director during set-up, lift planning, execution, and communication. Topics include:
- Pre-operation inspection
- Basic controls and functions
- Stability fundamentals
- Set-up and site readiness
- Outriggers, leveling, and cribbing
- Jobsite hazards and lift-zone controls
- Wire rope awareness
- Load hooks and connection best practices
- Load handling
- Traveling with a load (as applicable)
- Load ratings and capacity awareness
- Load weight calculating
- Calculating lifting solutions
- Signaling and spotting
This curriculum reinforces the “why” behind safe lift decisions—so leaders can recognize risk triggers early and take corrective action before the lift begins.
Courses include
KARM provides tools that support training verification, lift planning, and employer recordkeeping:
- Written knowledge verification
- Rigging weight tables
- Crane signal charts
- Lift plan form
- Jib pre-install meeting checklist
- Jib post-install inspection checklist
Proof of completion
Participants receive documentation that supports employer training records and internal qualification programs, including:
- Lift Director course ID card
- Employer records
- And more (additional documentation and jobsite tools as applicable)
Why Lift Director training matters
Strong Lift Directors reduce risk by:
- Verifying conditions before equipment is set
- Confirming load weight, lift path, and capacity considerations
- Ensuring rigging and connections match the lift plan
- Establishing clear signaling/spotting expectations
- Coordinating the crew so the lift stays controlled and predictable
