Direct Answer
A crane pick list is a document that itemizes every structural steel pick the crane will make during erection — assembly mark, weight, pick point, and planned lift sequence. It is used to verify that every pick is within the crane's rated capacity at the working radius and to plan the crane's position and outrigger setup for each phase of erection.
Full Explanation
The crane pick list is prepared by the erection engineer or experienced crane operator using the structural BOM weights and the erection sequence plan. For each pick, the list includes: assembly mark, piece weight (from BOM), lifting radius (distance from crane center to pick location), required capacity at that radius (from crane load chart), rigging weight, and any special conditions (tandem lift, blind pick, restricted headroom). Lifts where the required capacity exceeds 75% of rated capacity at the working radius are flagged as 'critical picks' requiring a formal critical lift plan.
What This Means for Your Shop
As a fabricator, your BOM weights must be accurate for crane planning to work. An assembly that is 20% heavier than the BOM weight because connection plates were added after the preliminary BOM can push a borderline pick into a critical lift or, worse, an overload condition.
Common Mistakes
Not accounting for rigging weight (slings, shackles, spreader bars) in the pick list. Rigging for a large column assembly can add 500–1,000 lbs — a meaningful fraction for a crane at its capacity limit.
Recommended Process
Deliver final assembly weights (from the IFC BOM, not preliminary) to the erection contractor at least 2 weeks before erection begins. Flag any assemblies heavier than 15 tons or that require tandem picks. Participate in the crane capacity review for all heavy picks.