# Crane lift planning software that recalculates when the configuration changes

> A critical lift plan is the written documentation for a lift carrying elevated risk. It records the load, crane configuration, rigging and capacity margin before the pick. OSHA's cranes and derricks standard, 29 CFR 1926 subpart CC, requires equipment be used within rated capacity, and there are roughly 21,000 US crane and rigging establishments. Neurobird computes against the real load chart and versions the plan when configuration changes.

- URL: https://neurobird.com/liftplan/
- Product: Neurobird Crane Rigging Lift Planning Dispatch Platform
- Niche: crane rigging lift planning
- Buyer: crane and rigging contractors
- Status: in development, open for early access
- Updated: 2026-08-21

## What Neurobird Crane Rigging Lift Planning does

- Compute capacity against the real load chart for the configuration actually rigged
- Version the plan when radius, counterweight or boom configuration changes
- Capture the rigging: slings, angles, spreader bars and their rated capacities
- Hold the signed plan and the pre lift checks with the job, retrievable years later

## How it works

1. **Define the load and configuration** Weight, rigging, boom length, radius, counterweight and quadrant, entered once as the basis of the plan.
2. **Compute against the real chart** Capacity comes from the manufacturer chart for that exact configuration, so the margin is calculated the same way every time.
3. **Sign and keep** The signed plan, pre lift checks and any versions stay attached to the job, retrievable long after the crane has left.

## From the source material

> A Critical Lift Plan is a step-by-step plan or work instructions and shall contain all approved documents and information required to execute the lift.

Source: hanford.gov, https://www.hanford.gov/files.cfm/HR_1-5_Lift_Planning.pdf

## Industry context

- **1926 CC** OSHA's cranes and derricks in construction standard, subpart CC, governs operation within rated capacity and competent supervision. (source: OSHA, https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926SubpartCC)
- **21,000** Approximate US establishments in crane, rigging and heavy lift services carrying this planning duty. (source: US Census County Business Patterns, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp.html)
- **75%** A common threshold at which a lift is treated as critical, being load weight as a share of rated chart capacity. (source: OSHA cranes and derricks, https://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks)
- **2010** Year OSHA's modern cranes and derricks rule took effect, setting current operator and planning expectations. (source: OSHA, https://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks)

## Pricing

- Single crane: $95 per crane, per month
- Contractor: $190 per crane, per month
- Heavy lift: $340 per crane, per month

## Questions

### What is a critical lift plan?

A critical lift plan is written documentation for a lift that carries elevated risk, typically because the load approaches chart capacity, involves multiple cranes, lifts personnel, or takes place over occupied areas. It records the load, the configuration, the rigging and the capacity margin before the pick happens.

### What does OSHA require?

OSHA's cranes and derricks standard, 29 CFR 1926 subpart CC, requires that the equipment be used within its rated capacity and that operations be planned and supervised competently. Many owners and contractors additionally require a written plan for critical lifts.

### Why do configuration changes matter?

Because rated capacity depends on boom length, radius, counterweight and quadrant. A change in any of those makes the previous chart reading wrong, so a plan that was safe at 60 feet may not be at 75.

### Does this replace the load chart?

No. It reads the manufacturer chart for the crane and configuration in use, and does the arithmetic against it consistently, so the capacity margin is calculated the same way every time.

## Sources

- [OSHA 29 CFR 1926 subpart CC, cranes and derricks](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926SubpartCC)
- [OSHA cranes and derricks resources](https://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks)
- [US Census County Business Patterns](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp.html)

## Contact

- office@neurobird.com
- https://neurobird.com/