Which factor must be assessed to ensure the ground can support hoisting equipment and load?

To ensure the ground can support hoisting equipment and load, it's essential to assess the weight. When setting up a hoisting operation, the weight of the load being lifted is critical in determining the ground's ability to bear the load without failure. The soil or surface must be able to withstand the concentrated load from the hoisting equipment along with the total weight of the load.

The other factors, while relevant in various contexts, do not directly influence the ground's capacity to support the weight. Surface area is important for distributing weight over a larger area but does not solely determine the ground's strength. Weather conditions can impact the overall safety and stability of a lifting operation, but they do not directly affect the ground's load-bearing capacity. The height of the lift is crucial for understanding the dynamics of the lift and potential swing or load movement, but it is secondary to the consideration of weight when it comes to ground support.