Riggers have many responsibilities.

They decide which pulleys, booms, braces,

and cables are strong enough for each job. They also must know where to
attach the hooks, chains, and cables to lift a load safely. In some cases, riggers
build equipment around the object to be moved, such as a tower or boom.
While the object is being lifted, riggers use hand signals and other means to
direct crane operators and help guide the objects into place.

Education and Training Requirements

A high school education is recommended. Courses in mathematics, plan
reading, and shop are especially valuable. English and communication courses
are also important, because riggers give directions to others.

Riggers use pulleys, cable, and hooks attached to cranes to lift heavy objects such as steel
plates, bundles of steel rods, and drilling towers. (© Earl Dotter. Reproduced by permission.)

After high school, riggers can begin their training by working on the job as
riggers' helpers. The trade can usually be learned in several years. However,
the best training is offered by formal apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are
supervised by union contract or committees. These programs involve both on-
the-job training and at least 204 hours of classroom instruction each year.
Apprenticeships for riggers last three or four years, depending on local union
requirements. Applicants must be at least eighteen years old, have a high
school diploma or its equivalent, be in good physical condition, and be alcohol
and drug free. Apprentices receive training in blueprint reading, care and safe
use of tools, mathematics, welding, and oxyacetylene flame cutting. Riggers
who complete apprenticeship programs have a thorough background in their
trade.

Getting the Job

The best way to enter an apprenticeship is to contact the appropriate union.
Local union offices can be found in the Yellow Pages under "Labor
Organizations" or through Internet search engines. If an apprenticeship is not
a possibility, prospective riggers can contact construction companies,
shipbuilders, trucking and hauling firms, steel mills, chemical companies, oil
refineries, and heavy equipment manufacturers, all of which employ riggers.
State employment offices, job banks on the Internet, and newspaper classified
ads are other sources of job information.

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

Riggers advance mainly by receiving increases in pay. Wages frequently
depend on the company's location and the worker's skill and experience.
Wages also vary with the particular job.

Opportunities depend, to some extent, on the condition of the economy.

However, the employment outlook for riggers is generally as good as the
average for all jobs through 2014. Employment may decline in specific
industries and regions of the country and because of changes in construction
methods.

Working Conditions
Working conditions for riggers depend on the specific job. Some riggers work
mainly in industrial plants, where it can be noisy and dirty. Others work
outdoors on construction sites. They may lose work time because of bad
weather. Riggers also work around shipyards and docks, where it can be cold
and damp. A forty-hour, five-day workweek is normal. When overtime is
necessary, a higher wage is paid.

The demand for riggers varies in different areas. As a result, some riggers,
especially those working for contractors, must travel long distances or even
move to find employment. Riggers who work for industrial plants and similar
organizations usually do not have this problem.

The rigger's work is physically demanding. The workers must be in good

physical condition. Good eyesight and the ability to judge distances are
important. Riggers must also be able to give and take instructions, solve
problems, and work well with others.

Where to Go for More Information

International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing

Iron Workers
1750 New York Ave. NW, Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 383-4800
http://www.ironworkers.org

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths,

Forgers, and Helpers
753 State Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 371-2640
http://www.boilermakers.org

National Association of Women in Construction

327 S. Adams St.
Fort Worth, TX 76104-1002
(800) 552-3506
http://www.nawic.org

United States Department of Labor

Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-3813
http://www.doleta.gov/atels_bat

Read more: Rigger Job Description, Career as a Rigger, Salary, Employment -

Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements,
Getting the Job -
StateUniversity.com https://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/263/Rigger.ht
ml#ixzz5hqHdxABM