No load is too heavy to plan, but a plan cannot make an overloaded crane safe. The selected crane, rigging, setup, and ground conditions must be suitable for the load. If they are not, the team must change the equipment or method.
There is also no universal percentage at which every lift requires a critical lift plan. OSHA uses a 75% threshold in its definition of a critical lift for steel erection under 29 CFR 1926.751. OSHA did not make that definition a general planning trigger for every crane job.
A useful plan checks the verified load weight, actual crane load chart, lift radius, rigging forces, ground support, clearances, communication, and stop-work conditions. It reduces risk; it does not guarantee that every variable is known or that every lift can proceed.
See when a critical lift plan is required or follow our 8-step planning guide. Need help engineering your next heavy lift? Get a quote for your project.