- All gear involved should be carefully examined before use.
- All wires and blocks should be checked for any defects, sheaves to be examined for free rotation.
- All gear selected should be of adequate swl.
- Allowance should be made of the weight lifted plus the weight of the purchase system.
- End links, rings or shackles to ride freely from whichever point they hang.
- Strops, wire slings, eye-bolts etc to be examined that they are of adequate strength.
- While slinging wood or other packing to be used to prevent the sling from cutting into the load.Avoid shocks due to load slipping or suddern starts.
- Winchmen should be experienced, they should co-ordinate well and operate smoothly.
- Stability: the ship must have adequate g.m. Because when the load is lifted its centre of gravity rises to the derrick head, due to this action the centre of gravity of the ship rises. A negative metacentric height must be avoided and in this connection the free-surface effect must be reduced.
- The vessel should be initially upright with the moorings taut and manned as the vessel as the vessel will acquire a list when the load is swung out board.
- The gangway must be clear of the jetty.
- Barges that are not in immediate use must be cast off.
- Preventer stays should be rigged onto the mast.
- inches must be put in double gear.
- Steadying lines must be secured to the sides of the load.
- Remove guard rails if possible.
