JGJ 276-2012 Safety Requirements for Lifting Operations
JGJ 276-2012, the Safety Technical Specification for Hoisting Operations in Building Construction, establishes the safety technical requirements for lifting operations on construction sites. The standard covers rigging and lifting spreaders, foundation and ground conditions, selection of lifting appliances, lifting procedures, and safeguarding measures, and is applicable to all types of hoisting operations in building construction.
Rigging and Lifting Spreader Safety Requirements
JGJ 276-2012 imposes strict safety requirements on rigging and lifting spreaders used in hoisting operations. Wire rope slings must have a safety factor of at least 6. When a sling is used for choking or wrapping a load, the bending and compression stresses at the choke point require a higher safety factor than the value of 5 used for general hoisting rope. Slings must be terminated by hand-splicing or aluminum ferrule swaging, with the splice length being no less than 20 times the wire rope diameter.
The included angle between sling legs (measured from the vertical) must not exceed 60°, meaning the total angle between any two legs is limited to 120° maximum. As the angle increases, sling tension rises sharply — at 60° each leg carries 0.58 times the load, at 90° it reaches 0.71 times, and at 120° it equals 1.0 times the load, leaving little safety margin. Synthetic web slings must have a safety factor of at least 6, and slings must never be knotted during use.
Hooks must have smooth surfaces free of cracks. Wear at the critical section must not exceed 5% of the original dimension, and permanent deformation of the throat opening must not exceed 10% of the original size — hooks exceeding these limits must be scrapped. Shackles require a safety factor of at least 4 and must be loaded in the intended orientation; side loading is strictly prohibited. Wire rope clips must comply with GB/T 5976, with the U-bolt placed on the short (dead) end of the rope.
Before each use, wire rope slings must be visually inspected along their entire length. Slings showing broken wires, wear, corrosion, or kinking must be replaced immediately. Per GB/T 5972, a wire rope must be scrapped when the number of broken wires within one lay length reaches 10% of the total wire count. The splice length of a hand-spliced sling must be no less than 20 times the wire rope diameter, and no broken wires are permitted within the splice zone. For swaged slings, any crack or slippage at the ferrule requires immediate scrapping.
The standard also mandates that shackles be loaded in the correct orientation — the pin should face the direction of the load, with the screw-thread end pointing upward. Side loading is prohibited because it reduces the shackle's load-bearing capacity by approximately 60%. Hooks must be checked for throat opening before each use; any permanent deformation exceeding 15% of the original opening requires immediate scrapping. Lifting slings should be stored away from direct sunlight and corrosive chemicals.
Lifting Appliance Selection and Foundation Requirements
The rated lifting capacity of the crane must accommodate the heaviest load to be lifted. At the most unfavorable working radius, the rated lifting capacity must be at least 1.25 times the weight of the load. Outriggers on mobile cranes must be fully extended, with timber sleepers or crane mats placed under the outrigger floats to distribute ground pressure. The ground in the working area must be leveled and compacted, with a bearing capacity of at least 150 kPa.
Tower crane foundations must be constructed in accordance with the parameters specified in the Operation Manual, with concrete strength of at least C30 and a foundation top levelness within 1/1000. When working on soft ground, the soil must be improved by replacing it with crushed stone or laying steel plate crane mats, and the bearing capacity must be verified by load testing. When multiple cranes operate in overlapping zones, the vertical clearance between tower crane jibs must be at least 5 m.
Web Sling ≥5
Total ≤120°
Heavy loads ≥200 kPa
Lifting Capacity
Check rigging tension
No climbing ≥13 m/s
| Slingincluded angle | Single-leg Tension Coefficient | Safetysafety margin | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0° | 0.50 | 2.0 | Safety |
| 30° | 0.58 | 1.7 | Safety |
| 45° | 0.71 | 1.4 | Safety |
| 60° | 1.00 | 1.0 | Limit Value |
| >60° | >1.00 | <1.0 | Prohibited |
Tower crane foundation work must be carried out strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's Manual. The concrete strength grade of the foundation must not be lower than C30, and the Levelness deviation of the foundation top surface must not exceed 1/1000. The ground beneath the foundation must be free of soft soil pockets, voids, buried utilities, or other adverse geological conditions. If any such conditions are encountered, ground improvement or relocation of the foundation is required. After pouring, the foundation concrete must be cured for at least 7 days, and crane erection may only proceed once the concrete has reached its design strength.
When multiple cranes operate on the same site, a dedicated anti-collision plan must be developed. The vertical clearance between the jibs of adjacent tower cranes must be at least 5 m, and the minimum horizontal spacing between neighboring cranes must meet safety requirements. A group-operation plan must be prepared for crane fleets, clearly defining the working envelope and avoidance rules for each crane. Hand Signals must be coordinated across all cranes to prevent miscommunication.
Lifting Operation Safety Regulations
Before each Lifting operation, a Trial Lift must be performed: slowly raise the load approximately 200 mm off the ground and pause to verify that the load is properly secured, that tension is evenly distributed across all slings, and that the Brake is functioning reliably. Only after these checks are confirmed may the load be lifted to its full height. Loads must be transported at a safe elevation and must never be carried over personnel. Hoisting operations are prohibited when wind speed reaches or exceeds 20 m/s.
All Lifting operations must be directed by a certified Crane signal person using clear, unambiguous signals. The operator must follow the signal person's instructions; however, any person may issue a stop signal in an emergency. At the end of the work shift, the load must be lowered to the ground and the Hook raised to its highest position. A restricted access zone must be established around the work area, and unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter.
| inspection items | technical requirements | Period | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| sling Inspection | Safety factor≥6 | Each Time | §3.1 |
| Lifting spreader Inspection | None Crack Deformation | Each Time | §3.2 |
| Foundation Inspection | Load Capacity≥150kPa | Per Item | §4.2 |
| Trial Lift | Off-ground200mm | Each Time Lifting | §5.1 |
| safety device | Complete and Valid | Weekly | §6.1 |
Kelude Heavy Industry provides technical consultation on lifting safety solutions for construction sites.
The trial lift is a critical step in preventing accidents during lifting operations. In addition to checking the security of the rigging and the reliability of the brake, the trial lift should also verify that the load is balanced. If any inclination is detected, lower the load and readjust the lifting points. After the trial lift is confirmed safe, raise the load slowly to a safe height (at least 0.5 m above ground-level obstacles), and route the lifting path away from personnel access systems and critical equipment.
Lifting Safety FAQ
Q: Why should the included angle between sling legs be kept within 60° during lifting?
A: The angle between each sling leg and the vertical line should not exceed 60°, which corresponds to a total included angle of no more than 120°. Tension increases sharply as the angle grows — at 0° each leg carries 0.5× the load, at 60° it reaches 1.0×, and at 80° it rises to approximately 2.88×. The formula is F = W/(2·cosθ), which is why the standard requires the included angle to be ≤ 60°.
Q: What are the requirements for signaller configuration during lifting operations?
A: Every lifting operation must have a dedicated signaller providing unified direction. For multi-person operations, a lead signaller should be appointed with a designated assistant to support coordination. Communication is carried out using hand signals or two-way radios, with verbal confirmation repeated back. Signallers must be certified for their role and wear clearly visible identification.
Q: What are the ground and outrigger requirements for crane lifting?
A: The ground must be level and compacted, with sufficient load-bearing capacity. Crane mats or steel plates should be placed under the outriggers of mobile cranes, and the ground bearing pressure must not exceed 0.15 MPa. Outriggers must be fully extended, and operation should only proceed within the specified working radius. If outrigger settlement or crane inclination is observed, stop lifting immediately.
Q: What should the emergency plan for lifting operations cover?
A: The emergency plan should define the emergency response team structure and individual responsibilities. It must identify potential lifting hazards — such as dropped loads, crane overturning, and wire rope breakage — and include provisions for emergency equipment including spare wire rope, jacks, and first-aid kits. Drills should be conducted at least twice a year.
