A method for handling a wind turbine component (20) is disclosed. The method includes providing a lifting system including a hoist cable (36) and an attachment assembly (38). The attachment assembly includes one or more removable ballast weights (48). The method includes positioning the attachment assembly near a working surface, removing at least some of the one or more ballast weights from the attachment assembly, and attaching a lifting tool (34) to the attachment assembly. The combined weight of the attachment assembly and the lifting tool is sufficiently greater than a threshold weight of the lifting system. The method further includes attaching a wind turbine component to the lifting tool and moving the wind turbine component using the lifting system. A lifting system is also disclosed. The lifting system includes a hoist cable, an attachment assembly, and a lifting tool. The combined weight of the attachment assembly and the lifting tool is sufficiently greater than a threshold weight of the lifting system.