The International

Rigging & Lifting

Handbook

emphasise good practice

and give guidance on the
safe use of all types

Rigging & Lifting

The contents of this book

The International
Rigging & Lifting
Handbook

of lifting equipment.
This handbook should be
used to enhance
safety awareness.
ISBN : 1-904021-05-0

Written, designed and published by North Sea Lifting Ltd.

Tel: +44(0)1224 208988 Fax: +44(0)1224 208044
www.nsl-aberdeen.com Email: info@nsl-aberdeen.com
2008 Edition

Index

Introduction and Scope of Application

1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0

Glossary of Terms
Regulations
Definition and Principles of Lifting Equipment
Examination of Lifting Equipment
Selection of Lifting Equipment
Safe Approach to Lifting
Handbook Issue, Control and Receipt Document

Safe Use of Equipment

8.0
9.0
10.0
11.0
12.0
13.0
14.0
15.0

Cranes (Including man-riding)

Chain Hoists / Pullifts
Wire Rope Hoists
Beam Clamps
Beam Trolleys
Plate Clamps
Snatch Blocks / Sheave Blocks
Winches

16.0
17.0
18.0
19.0
20.0
21.0
22.0
23.0

Hydraulic Jacks / Rams

Wire Rope Slings
Man-made Fibre Slings
Alloy Grade 80 Chain Slings
Shackles
Eye Bolts
Turnbuckles
Fall Arrest Devices

Safety Advice
24.0
25.0
26.0
27.0
28.0

Slinging Guidelines
Loading / Unloading of Containers (Forklift Trucks)
Manual Handling and Kinetic Lifting
Guidance on Personnel Transfers (Billy Pugh and Frog)
Guidance for Lifting Over Live Facilities

Working Load Limit Tables

Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4

Wire Rope
Wire Rope Slings
Man-made Fibre Slings
Alloy Chain Slings

Table 5 Alloy Shackles

Table 6 Eye Bolts
Table 7 Hoist Rings
Table 8 Turnbuckles

Appendices
Appendix 1 Lifting Gear / Legislation Matrix
Appendix 2 Density of Materials
Appendix 3 Recommended Hand Signals for Crane Operations
Appendix 4 Recommended Hand Signals for Manriding Winches
Appendix 5 Lift Categorisation Checklist
Appendix 6 General Pre-lifting Checklist
Quick Reference Index at Back of Handbook
The International Rigging & Lifting Handbook

l7

6.0

SAFE APPROACH TO LIFTING

The following section gives recommendations as to the correct procedures

to adopt when effecting a lift.

Personnel Competence

6.1

Any person using lifting equipment must be trained to operate that

equipment. The person must also have a working knowledge of its
capabilities and the defects likely to arise in service. This knowledge will be
of value when carrying out the pre-use examinations.

Never Exceed the Safe Working Load

6.2

In all lifting operations care should be taken to ensure that the load imposed
on any item of equipment or on part of any item does not exceed its safe
working load. When there is any uncertainty about the weight of the load
or the load likely to be applied to a particular part of the equipment it is
recommended that load sensing devices be used. In addition to the above,
care should be taken to ensure that at all stages of lifting, the load remains
in a stable condition. In general the load may be unstable if at any time (1)
the centre of gravity of the load is not vertically beneath the crane hook, or
(2) the centre of gravity of the load is higher than the point of attachment of
the slings to the load. There are other causes of instability to be considered,
eg liquid moving within a vessel, etc.

Correct Use

6.3

The equipment should be used only for the specific purpose for which it is
designed and should not be adapted for any other purposes without the
approval of a Competent Person.

Check The Lift

6.4

With ALL lifting operations the load should be lifted a nominal distance
only in the first instance. This "trial lift" allows the operator to check his
estimations of balance, stability, and general security of the load while
it is in a relatively safe position. If any discrepancies are found the load
should be lowered and the slinging revised. The sequence of trial lift and
adjustment should be repeated until the operator is satisfied that the load
is balanced, stable and secure.
Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning!

18

Do not stand below loads, keep hands clear of rigging as slack is

taken up, avoid climbing on containers and stacked materials and
never stand between loads and walls / bulkheads, etc.

l NSL 1991 l www.nsl-aberdeen.com

The Organisation of Lifting Operations Flowchart NSL 2002 (Revised 2008)

Minimum
Qualifications

Control
Measures

Minimum
Qualifications

Control
Measures

eg: extremely heavy loads, confined spaces, restricted headroom,

lifting over unprotected plant or equipment, lifting sub-sea, lifts
involving divers, lifts involving floating cranes, lifts where personnel
are the load, ie lifting operations or conditions which would merit
additional engineering input.

These lifts could be any of the first three categories but with
additional hazards,

Complex Lifts

The Competent Person: The appointed person responsible for producing written plans and supervising complicated and complex lifts.
Competent Personnel: Personnel suitably trained and/or experienced to perform the lifting operation safely and efficiently at various
specific levels of difficulty as illustrated below.

Non-Routine
Lifts

Complicated Lifts

Control
Measures

Planning: Written plans

produced by The Competent
Person plus job packs
combined with toolbox talks are
required for this level of lifting
operation.

Supervision: By The
Competent Person with
engineering support.

Risk Assessment: Risk

Assessments must be
undertaken and controlling
measures recorded.

This type of lift must be

performed by Riggers qualified
to National Standards eg EMTA
level 2 / ECITB Level 3 (or
equivalent) and/or have 5yrs
experience.

Risk Assessment: A
Risk Assessment must be
undertaken and controlling
measures recorded.
Supervision: By The
Competent Person with
engineering support as
required.

Their competence should

be verified by qualified
skills assessors. In addition,
engineering support must be
available as deemed necessary.

Planning: Written plans

produced by The Competent
Person combined with toolbox
talks are required for this level
of lifting operation.

Lifts that are difficult due to the nature of the load,

Minimum
Qualifications

Planning: May have a written

plan or alternatively, a method
documented in a Rigging and
Lifting hand book.
Risk Assessment: A basic
risk assessment must be
undertaken but need not be
recorded.
Supervision: By operator
actually performing the work.

Their competence should

be verified by qualified skills
assessors.

This type of lift must be

performed by Riggers qualified
to National Standards eg EMTA
level 2 / ECITB Level 3 (or
equivalent) and/or have 5yrs
experience.

Lifts that involve the use of basic hoisting equipment,

Simple Lifts

2 The competent person identifies lift category and

implements control measures as detailed below.

1 Responsible person identifies that a lifting operation is to

take place.

Lifting Operations

All Lifting Operations must be : competently planned

appropriately supervised
carried out in a safe manner
risk assessed

Routine
Lifts

Routine Lifts
Uncomplicated lifts that are performed on a regular basis, which
involve basic slinging practices,

Control
Measures

These lifts can be performed

by personnel who have passed
assessment on the Technician
level - Rigging and Lifting
course and/or been involved in
such operations for 12 months.

eg: the handling of pipe, tubulars, containers, the loading /

unloading of trucks, etc usually performed by the deck crew,
warehouse or yard personnel.

Minimum
Qualifications

Planning: The use of generic

plans and toolbox talks is
usually adequate for this level
of lifting operation. Ensure
there are no changes to the
original plan.

eg: awkward shape, offset or high centre of gravity, fragile,

containing liquids, no lifting attachments/difficult to sling, etc. The
loads may also require to be rotated or cross-hauled involving two
or more sets of rigging and/or tandem lifting with cranes. Lifts of
an extended duration i.e. covering two or more work shifts.

These lifts can be performed

by personnel who have passed
assessment on a Banksman/
Slinger course and/or been
involved in such operations for
6 months.

Their competence should

be verified by qualified skills
assessors.

eg: a crane or manual hoist (suspended from dedicated lifting

structures such as padeyes or runway beams) directly above
the load. Lifts would also have to be outwith sensitive, difficult or
restricted areas. Loads would also require to have certified lifting
points or be relatively easy to sling.

Their competence should

be verified by qualified skills
assessors.

Risk Assessment: If there

are changes to original plan, a
further risk assessment must
be undertaken.
Supervision: By appointed lift
controller who also allocates
duties to others.

l NSL 1991 l www.nsl-aberdeen.com

22

8.51

Outrigger Bearing Pressure: Calculating the actual bearing pressure

on outriggers can be quite complicated as there are so many variables.
Normally, with the crane set up correctly, the bearing load would be spread
across two outrigger foot plates, which would give you one set of values.

fig 8.13
As the crane booms out, the bearing pressure in these outrigger foot
plates would increase due to the increased moment, generated by the
extended radius. This would give you a higher set of values.
boomed out
slewed right

increase pressure on
this outrigger footplate

see fig 8.15 for view

in this direction

fig 8.14
As the crane slews round, the bearing pressure will decrease on one foot
plate and increase on the other, resulting in yet an even higher bearing
pressure value. Ideally, the crane manufacturers tables for the various
bearing pressures in relation to loads / radii etc. should be consulted.
The International Rigging & Lifting Handbook

l 49

9.9

The length of the load chain should be checked to ensure that the bottom
hook will reach the lowest point required without running the load chain
fully out. If the load chain is permitted to run fully out, undue stress may
be placed on the slack end anchorage (which is not a true load bearing
component).

9.10

Always
i)

Ensure the load rigging, ie sling / shackle / ring seats correctly in

the bowl of the bottom hook and allows the safety catch to close.

fig 9.2

9.11

ii)

Ensure the load is correctly balanced.

iii)

Position the hoist directly above the centre of gravity of the load (if
known).

iv)

Ensure all restrictions have been removed, eg hold-down bolts, etc.

Never
i)

Load the tips of the hook.

fig 9.3

The International Rigging & Lifting Handbook

l 65

27.2

Personnel Transfer Capsules (PTCs / Frogs)

The PTC is a personnel transport and evacuation capsule and is supplied
complete with three seats fitted with four-point safety harnesses fitted to
a shock absorbing central column with lifting slings. The capsule can be
fitted with a variety of optional accessories.

Elevation

Plan View

fig 27.1
27.3

The PTC is designed to provide a safe and reversible method of

transferring personnel to standby and supply vessels from offshore drilling
rigs, although it can be used in many varying types of transfer at sea. It
is designed to be safe and to be operated in heavier and rougher sea
conditions than conventional transfer baskets.

27.4

The PTC comprises two main assemblies, an outer protective shell

consisting of a stainless framework that houses the buoyancy panels and a
central column seating assembly to provide shock absorption and support.
All components are designed for the marine environment.

27.5

The yellow coloured PTC buoyancy panels are manufactured from medium
density polyethylene. The PTC has three large open access points to
permit rapid entry / exit. It can withstand lateral impacts of 2 m/s.

27.6

The buoyancy distribution ensures the PTC will float upright in the event of
immersion. The central column supports a keel weight which ensures that
the PTC will also self right.

188

l NSL 1991 l www.nsl-aberdeen.com