The regulation, owner, employer, contract, or site procedure governing the job decides who prepares a critical lift plan. The planner must understand the equipment, load, rigging, site, and hazards involved in that specific lift.
For a construction operation in which more than one crane or derrick supports the load, 29 CFR 1926.1432 requires a qualified person to develop the plan. The employer must provide engineering expertise when that qualified person determines it is needed. OSHA does not require a professional engineer or a specific NCCCO or NCCER rigger credential for every critical lift plan.
Hoisting personnel is governed separately by 29 CFR 1926.1431, including a 50% capacity limit in the circumstances covered by that section. That limit is not a general definition of a critical lift.
Credentials can help demonstrate expertise, but the employer must match the person’s knowledge and experience to the actual planning task. Required reviews, signatures, and professional-engineer involvement depend on the governing procedure and the engineering work involved.
Learn who may approve a critical lift plan or review our practical guide to planning a critical lift.