When setting up a crane, what is the first step to achieve proper leveling?

Achieving proper leveling is essential for crane operation to ensure safety and stability during lifting operations. The first step in this process is to use a level. This tool helps determine if the crane is positioned correctly on a flat surface, crucial for preventing any potential tipping or instability while the crane is in use.

Using a level allows the operator to assess the horizontal alignment of the crane's base, ensuring that it is evenly balanced before any further adjustments or configurations are made. This step is foundational because even after subsequently adjusting outriggers or adding counterweights, if the crane is not initially level, it could lead to unsafe operational conditions.

Adjusting outriggers would typically occur after confirming that the crane is level to further stabilize the equipment. Mounting counterweights is also a later step that aids in maintaining balance but comes after ensuring the crane is leveled. Calibrating the hoist is critical for operational precision but is not related to the initial leveling of the crane setup. Therefore, using a level first is the correct approach to guarantee the stability and safety of the crane before proceeding with other setup tasks.