How to verify voice communication channels before a critical lift for lift directors in 2026
A guide for lift directors to check voice communication channels, compare options, and prepare phones or other communication tools.
2Dig is published by the makers of OperatorLink, which is compared here alongside other tools.
Verify voice communication channels by checking the chosen tool, confirming each person can hear and respond, and recording any limits before the lift starts.
| Option | What it does | Fee | Card fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| OperatorLink | Shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1] | Currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] | not published |
| Phone video call app | not published | not published | not published |
| Two-way radio | not published | not published | not published |
What you need before you start
Have the communication tools ready for the lift team, along with a clear plan for who speaks and who listens. Confirm that each person knows which channel will be used and how to report a problem. For OperatorLink, the crew joins one jobsite session in a phone browser, with someone sharing a link or QR code. [1] [1] Check that each phone has a working browser and a data signal because button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser. [1] Decide whether the lift needs voice calls, signal buttons, or both. Anyone who joins an OperatorLink jobsite can take part in a voice call run from the phone browser. [1] Keep a record of the agreed communication method and any limits found during the check.
Step by step
- Identify every person who needs to send or receive lift communication and confirm the method they will use.
- Check each communication device before the lift begins. For OperatorLink, check that each phone has a working browser and a data signal because signals pass between phones in a browser. [1]
- Start a communication check with the selected tool. For OperatorLink, the person who starts the jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1]
- Confirm that every crew member can see and respond to the selected signals. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1]
- Check voice communication before the lift begins. With OperatorLink, anyone who joins can take part in a voice call run from the phone browser. [[c:operatorlink:operatorlink-voice-call]]
- Confirm how each signal behaves. In OperatorLink, STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1] HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [1]
- Test the move controls that will be used during the lift. In OperatorLink, holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones, and if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [1]
Tools that can do it
OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. It shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1] [1] Nobody needs to install an app; the page runs in a browser. [1] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1]
A phone video call app is another option. No facts here describe one, so check whether the crew can hear and respond clearly before the lift.
A two-way radio is another option. No facts here describe one, so check the channel, range, and operating process before the lift.
Match the option to the communication needs of the lift and record the checks completed before work begins.
Common mistakes to avoid
Relying on a communication check without confirming every person can use the chosen channel can leave gaps during a lift. Assuming every phone gives the same alert behavior can cause confusion. On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz; iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] Leaving an empty OperatorLink session open and expecting it to remain available later can fail because a jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1] Forgetting that HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone until the last person leaves can lead to confusion about clearing those signals. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Is OperatorLink free to use?
OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] The signals are shown through a phone browser, so the phone needs a working data signal for the shift. [1] Check the phone setup before relying on the communication method.
How can OperatorLink verify voice communication before a lift?
OperatorLink lets anyone who joins take part in a voice call run from the phone browser. [1] The crew can join a jobsite session from a shared link or QR code. [1] Confirm that each person has joined and can use the voice channel before the lift begins.
How does OperatorLink handle STOP signals?
STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1] This behavior is separate from HOLD and SLOW, which stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [1]
Do OperatorLink STOP signals buzz on every phone?
On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz. [1] iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] Check each phone before the lift so the crew knows how alerts appear.
How long does an OperatorLink jobsite link stay active?
An OperatorLink jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins it. [1] A jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1] Start a fresh session when a new link is needed.
OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]
Try OperatorLinkSources
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