FEBRUARY 2009

OVERVIEW
OBJECTIVES
RIGGERS CHECKLIST
RIGGER QUALIFICATIONS

&

RESPONSIBILITIES
SLING SELECTION
SLING INSPECTION AND USE
SLING LOAD CAPACITY
SAFE WORK PRACTICES
RIGGING HARDWARE
SECTION REVIEW EXERCISE

 Types

of Slings
Selecting Slings
Inspecting Slings
Correct Sling and Rigging Hardware
Uses

 Know the weight of the load

Know the Centre of Gravity of the Load
Make the load attachment above the CoG
Know the rated capacities of the sling
Inspect all rigging gear
Protect the Sling
Protect the load
Do not use hand-tucked slings
Allow for low D/d ratios on wire rope
Equalise loading on multiple legged slings
Allow for reductions when using choker

hitches

 Allow

for sling angles when forcing the

choker down
Use alloy or Grade 8 chain
Keep personnel clear of the area
Lift the load a few inches stop and
check rigging
Start and stop all movements slowly
Watch for obstructions and power lines
Use proper hand signals
Maintain load control
Observe the law of gravity
Be on the alert at all times

RIGGER is anyone who attaches or

detaches lifting equipment to load or
lift devices.
To be considered a qualified Rigger,
the person should have successfully
completed a rigging training
programme.
Crane load rigging should only be
performed by a qualified RIGGER.

 Alloy Chain Slings

Wire Rope Slings
Synthetic Web Slings
Fibre Rope Slings
Consider the following
Right Size and
Right Capacity of the rigging and hardware
Right material
Method of attachment
Possibility of rigging damaging the object
Potential hazards
Length of sling

Sling identification
Material strength
Design factor
Type of hitch
Angle of loading
Diameter of curvature
Fabrication efficiency

Types of Slings

Alloy Steel Chain slings

Synthetic web and round slings
Wire rope slings
Synthetic fibre rope slings

Sling bend

 Slings

must be used within their

rated load capacities.
Some factors can affect the rated
capacities after a certain period of
usage
Sling angle

 Ensure that
CoG should

hook is directly atop CoG

always be below the lifting

points
Choose the right type of slings for
irregularly shaped loads
Centre the load in the bowl of the load
hook
Using attachments
Safe lifting and moving
Storing equipment

 Shackles
Hooks
Rings, links and swivels
Pad eyes, eyebolts and other

attachment

points
Turnbuckle
Wire rope clips
Spreader and equaliser beams
Sheaves and blocks
Cargo Nets
All hardware should be
Identifiable
Inspected
Properly operated

 Attempt

34.

the exercises in pages 33

DETERMINING LOAD WEIGHT

METRIC CONVERSION CHART
WEIGHT CALCULATIONS
MATERIAL WEIGHT ESTIMATION
CENTRE OF GRAVITY AND BALANCE
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
SLING ANGLES
RIGGING MATH EXERCISE

 You

can find an items weight from:

Data on the Manufacturer Label Plates

Manufacturer documentation
Blueprints or drawings
Technical manuals
Shipping receipts
Engineering evaluations
Weigh the item

Basic

rules for calculating weights

 Use

the charts in pages 37 and 38

 Using area and volume

Use the right method for

item
Find the area first

the right

 Use

the table of weights on page 47

to determine the weight of the
materials in the selection list 1 12.
Load weights calculating table in
page 48
Attempt the exercises in pages 49
51.

 CoG

is the place in all objects where the

entire weight acts like it is concentrated
in that one point.
The location of the CoG is the most
important factor in rigging
For symmetrical objects it falls in the
middle
For other objects irregularly shaped, the
CoG must be calculated.
Ignoring the CoG can be very dangerous.

 Five

step Processes to Finding the CoG

Separate the object into sections or by components

Determine the weight of each sections or components
Form a reference end, measure the distance to the

Centre of each component. It is mandatory to take the

measurement from the same reference point or end.
Multiply each section weight by the sections
measured distance from the reference to its centre
Add together and divide by the total weight of all the
sections.

The

answer will give you the number of feet from

the reference end to the CoG.

 Weight

distribution is directly
proportional to the horizontal
distance between the objects CoG
and its attachment points or bearing
points...
Determining the Weight Distribution
following the steps in page 60 - 61

 Sling angle stress

Perpendicular sling angle
Horizontal sling angle
The Lift Triangle
Angle factor chart
Determine the sling angle
Locate angle on chart
Use corresponding Angle factor
Multiply angle factor by weight carried in leg

 Formula

for Sling Angle Stress:

Points to consider
CoG equal distance from attachment

points
Attachment points relatively level
Sling lengths are equal
Rigging Gear Capacities
Attempt the Rigging Math

pages 76 80.

Exercise in

 OVERVIEW
OBJECTIVES
TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
HAND SIGNALS
STANDARD VOICE SIGNALS
SPECIAL SIGNALS
AUDIBLE TRAVEL SIGNALS
AUDIBLE EMERGENCY SIGNAL
HAND SIGNAL EXERCISES

 The

following will be covered in this

section
The need for standard communications
The standard hand signals
Using voice communications
Using other audible devices

 Hand

signals on pages 85 88 have

following merits:
They are a standard method
They are visible to all
They require no batteries
They do not rely on frequency or wireless

signal
Radio/Telephone or other voice devices
Other audible devices such as a horn or

siren

 Special signals
Audible travel Signals
STOP
GO AHEAD
BACK UP

Audible Emergency Signal

Mobile Crane Hand Signal Exercises

on

pages 91 93
Overhead Crane Hand signal Exercises
on page 94

OVERVIEW
OBJECTIVES
MAIN

RIGGING HAZARDS

ELECTROCUTION
CRUSHING
SECTION

REVIEW EXERCISE

 Case

Studies highlight hazards in

pages 96 -97
Case 1: Hoisting Error Injures Rigger
Case 2: An ironworker suffered a

fractured pelvis while performing lifting

and rigging activities at a storage
building construction project.
Case 3: Accident in a steelwork project
site

Section will cover

Hazards encountered in rigging operations
Steps to prevent accidents
Emergency procedures to follow when an accident
occurs
Upon completion of the section you will be able to
Identify the electrical hazards in mobile crane
operations
List the steps necessary to avoid accidents with
electrical hazards.
Name the steps to follow in case of an accident
resulting from each hazard

 These

are usually caused by

Load instability
Lack of communication
Electrocution (electrical contact)
Miscellaneous

The

following attitudes are accident

prone
We had to get the job done
We have always done it that way
It was the operators fault

 Powerline contact
Overloading
Failure to use outriggers/soft

ground

and structural failure

Two blocking
Pinchpoint
Moving parts
Unsafe hooks
Obstruction of vision
Sheave caused cable damage

 Cable Kinking
Side Pull
Boom Buckling
Access to cabs
Control confusion
Turntable failure
Removable or Extendible

counter

weight systems
Machine not level
Travel upset in mobile hydraulic cranes

 Loss of control
Loss of stowed jib booms
Boom disassembly on lattice

work

boom cranes
Inadvertent loss of load on lattice
work boom cranes
Conductive cable for remove control
and controls accessible to an
operator standing on the ground
Wind and long boom cranes

Follow the Electrical Clearing Guide on page 104

Observations/activities before a lift
Observations/activities during a lift
If the Crane contact a power line:
Try to swing the crane away from the power line
If this is not possible, stay in the cab
Warn others to stay away from the crane
Have the power shut off.

If the crane is on fire or another reason that you

absolutely must leave the crane:
Climb to the lowest step and jump clear from the

crane, landing with both feet together

Do not step off the crane
Hop or make small shuffle steps away from the crane

Second greatest cause of deaths and injuries

Can result from the crane falling over or a worker
getting caught in moving parts or structural failure
Before the lift

Conduct a pre-operational inspection, making sure that

the following are true

Crane is properly set up

The wire rope is not worn
All required maintenance has been conducted
There are no adverse weather conditions

During the inspection

Ensure crane is not running
Keep hands away from moving parts
Hold a pre-lift meeting of all personnel
Instruct riggers in the proper way to rig and handle loads

During a Lift
Lift the load slightly off the ground to ensure rigging

holds properly
Use a tag line when the rotation of the load becomes
hazardous
Handle the load carefully and smoothly
Do not make any lift until the signal person gives the
proper signal
Watch for pinchpoints between the load and the crane
or other items
Refuse the lift if the load will be carried over anyone or
any critical equipment
Never allow anyone to ride on or with a load while lifting
Know the weight of the load to be lifted

Section Review Exercise on page 111.

CHAIN
WIRE

SLING INSPECTION

ROPE INSPECTION

SYNTHETIC

SLING INSPECTION

WIRE

ROPE BREAKING STRENGTH

LOAD

PLANNING WORKSHEET

Thank you very much and I hope you

have benefitted from the Training.

PROOFLOAD SERVICES LIMITED