If the jib capacity is 8 tons and the ball weighs 900 lbs, what is the heaviest load that can be lifted safely?

To determine the heaviest load that can be safely lifted by the jib, you need to consider the jib's capacity and the weight of the ball. The jib has a capacity of 8 tons, which is equivalent to 16,000 pounds (since 1 ton equals 2,000 pounds).

When lifting a load, you must account for the weight of any rigging equipment, such as the ball. Here, the ball weighs 900 lbs. To find the maximum load the jib can lift while considering the weight of the ball, you subtract the weight of the ball from the total capacity of the jib:

16,000 lbs (capacity) - 900 lbs (weight of the ball) = 15,100 lbs.

This calculation shows that the heaviest load that can be lifted safely, when you account for the weight of the ball, is 15,100 lbs. This total is what allows the jib to operate within its safe limit while lifting both the load and the rigging.