National Urban Search and Rescue Response System

Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)

Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Glossary of Common Terms

A
All-Terrain (AT) Hydraulic Boom Truck Crane
A combination of rough terrain and hydraulic truck cranes; have a lower center of gravity
and are equipped with highway tires, improved suspension, and all-wheel drive
capability; allows them to be self-transported from job to job at up to 55 mph
Once confronted with a rough job site, can use multi-wheel steering and all-wheel drive
to quickly position themselves in order to lift the appropriate load

Areas of Operation
The four sectors of a circle in which a crane boom can be positioned to lift a load
Back to top

B
Backhoe
A piece of heavy equipment containing a loader on front and a small excavator at the
rear

Basket Hitch
A sling cradles the load while both eyes are attached to the hook; more than one sling
may be necessary for stability and load control

Block
An assembly consisting of a steel enclosure housing a number of sheaves or pulleys
that carry the ropes or chains used to lift a load; the block allows for the free turning or
rotating of a load without changing the orientation of the hoist ropes

Boom Truck Crane

A versatile crane mounted on a commercial truck chassis and may be anchored at
either the front or rear end of the truck bed; may be configured with a hydraulic
telescoping or articulating boom

Glossary-1
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Braided Multi-Part Sling

Composed of multiple individual wire ropes that are interwoven to make a single sling;
more flexible than similar capacity standard slings; can fit odd-shaped loads, such as
rubble-sized concrete, better than standard slings
Back to top

C
Cable Laid Sling
Composed of multiple wire ropes grouped together; more flexible than standard slings,
but are not meant for fitting odd-shaped loads and probably would not be used in
US&R-type situations

Center of Gravity
Point within an object around which the object’s mass is evenly distributed

Chain Sling
Sling consisting of a length of chain with a master link on one end and a hook at the
other end; some chain slings may be configured with grab to grab, grab to slip, or other
combinations of devices

Choker Hitch
Sling passes through one eye or through a shackle and around the load while the other
eye is placed on the hook

Come-Along
A hand-operated winch and ratchet used to lift or pull objects

Counterweight
An equivalent weight or force used to offset weight added from rigging and a load to
prevent the crane from tipping; often, counterweight is the truck on a boom truck or a
separate set of weights

Crane Block
Also called hook block; heavier block to help downfall the hook when unloaded; crane
blocks are equipped with cheek straps that provide added strength between the end
attachments and the sheave center pins

Crane Inspection Form (CI-1)

Used as checklist to document the inspection of a crane upon arrival at the disaster site
and at the beginning of each operational period

Glossary-2
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Crane Use Order Form (CU-1)

Used to determine the type and size of crane to be requested for a particular incident or
rescue operation

Crawler-Mounted Hydraulic Truck Crane

A crane that combines the rapid setup of the hydraulic boom crane with the stability and
mobility of a crawler crane; often used in the logging industry

Crawler-Mounted Lattice Boom Crane

A rugged crane consisting of a lattice boom placed on a crawler carrier; need to be
moved to the site by trailer and take significant time and space to assemble

Critical Lift
Lift that exceeds 75% of the crane’s rated capacity or requires the use of more than one
crane to successfully complete
Back to top

D
D/d Ratio
Diameter around which a sling is bent (D) divided by the body diameter of the sling (d);
D/d ratio affects the capacity of a sling
Back to top

E
Excavator
A piece of heavy equipment used to remove debris from smaller collapse area, to clear
a workspace for larger equipment, or as a lifting device

Eye Bolt
Used to create an immobile rigging connection point for lifting
Back to top

Glossary-3
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

F
Flemish Eye
A type of eye splice where the strands of the end of a wire rope are unwound a certain
distance and plaited back into the wire rope, forming an eye; splice is secured using a
mechanical splice
Back to top

G
Grapple
An excavator attachment used to load crushed material into trucks

Grip Hoist
A hand-operated hoist that uses a length of wire rope that is pulled through two sets of
gripping jaws to lift, pull, and place loads across great distances

Grommet Sling
Composed of loops of wire rope; can be manufactured to shorter overall lengths than
standard slings and are useful in situations calling for tight rigging

Gross Capacity
What the load chart says the crane can lift; includes the net capacity plus all
attachments, rigging components, blocks, and hooks

Gross Load
Net load plus all rigging components, hooks, blocks, and wires
Back to top

H
Hitch
The way a sling is fastened to or around a load; three main types of hitches are vertical,
choker, and basket

Hoist
Device used for lifting or lowering a load that may be operated manually, electrically, or
hydraulically; common types of hoists include the come-along, ratchet chain, and grip

Glossary-4
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Hook
Device for grabbing and lifting loads; usually has a safety latch to prevent the
disengagement of the lifting sling

Horizontal Angle
Angle formed between the top of the load and sling leg; as the horizontal angle
decreases, forces on that leg of the sling increase

Hourly Log
Method of documenting usage of the various pieces of heavy equipment operating at a
disaster site

Hydraulic Breaker
An excavator attachment used to break concrete debris into smaller chunks

Hydraulic Truck Crane

Crane that consists of a hydraulic boom and is designed to move swiftly over the
highway on a special carrier; setup time reduced since the telescoping hydraulic boom
is transported as part of the crane/carrier assembly; may be operated on rubber tires,
but at a significantly reduced capacity
Back to top

I
Incident Command System (ICS) 214 Form
FEMA form used to record details of notable activities during an incident response

Included Angle
Angle formed between sling legs at the hook
Back to top

J
Jib
An extension added at the tip of a crane boom to extend the reach of both lattice and
hydraulic telescoping booms
Back to top

Glossary-5
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

L
Lang Lay
The direction of winding of the wire in a wire rope where the wires in each strand are
laid in the same direction as the strands in the rope; rope has the appearance of the
wires being diagonal to the length of the rope

Lattice Boom Truck Crane

Crane that is mounted on a carrier and features a relatively light, trussed boom
consisting of four longitudinal chords (one at each corner) made from round, square, or
angled, high-strength steel members that are diagonally trussed with smaller members
of the same shape; most lattice boom truck cranes take significant time and space to
assemble

Load Angle Factor

Change in force on a leg of a sling based on the sling angle; calculated by dividing the
length of the sling leg by the height from the load directly up to the hook (L ÷ H)

Load Chart
Document from the crane manufacturer that specifies the crane’s capabilities by
detailing its lift capacity in different configurations at varying distances and angles;
should accompany every crane
Back to top

M
Mechanical Advantage
Measure of the force amplification achieved by using a tool, mechanical device, or
machine system

Mechanical Splice
Ends of a wire rope are secured by pressing a metal sleeve over the ends of the strands
of the splice; allows the pull on the wire rope to follow a direct line along the center of
the rope
Back to top

N
Net Capacity
Load weight the crane can lift safely

Glossary-6
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Net Load
Weight of the object being lifted
Back to top

O
Outriggers
Used to balance a crane during lifting operations by lifting the entire truck, including
tires, off the ground

Overturning Moment
Tendency for a structure to turn over
Back to top

P
Pulverizer/Crusher
Excavator attachment used to crush concrete and separate into concrete fragments and
rebar
Back to top

R
Ratchet Chain Hoist
Hand-operated hoist that are often used to adjust sling lengths for awkwardly shaped
loads, balance and level odd-shaped loads when slings cannot be positioned to fully
capture the center of gravity, and better maneuver a load, especially when access is an
issue

Reeving
Placing of wire rope on a crane’s moving and stationary blocks; affects crane capacity
by increasing mechanical advantage

Regular Lay
The direction of winding of the wire in a wire rope where the wires in each strand are
laid in one direction while the strands making the rope are laid in the opposite direction;
rope has the appearance of the wires being parallel to the length of the rope

Glossary-7
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Resisting Moment
Resistance to overturning

Rigging Action Plan (RAP) Form

Used to plan the rigging operations for a given operational period
Rough Terrain Crane
Hydraulic boom crane designed to move around a job site; not designed to lift or carry
loads in rough terrain but may lift and slowly carry as long as they remain within 1% of
being level (1 ft. in 100 ft.)
Back to top

S
Safety Factor (SF)
Structural capacity of a system beyond the expected or actual loads

Seizing
A method to bind the ends of a wire rope to prevent the rope from un-laying; one wrap
around the wire is one seizing; number of seizings needed is the rope diameter
multiplied by three and rounded up to the next whole number

Shackle
A connecting link in rigging systems consisting of a U-shaped piece of metal with a pin
or bolt across the opening; allow different rigging to be connected and disconnected
quickly

Shears
Excavator attachment used to cut concrete, structural steel, and wood members

Skid Steer
Smaller version of a wheel loader that may be placed inside structures on lightly
designed office building or parking structure floors

Sling
Assembly that connects the load to the material handling equipment (OSHA 29 CFR
1910.184)

Sling Load
Force exerted on one leg of a multi-leg sling; calculated using the following formula:
Load angle factor × ½ of total load weight

Glossary-8
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Snatch Block
A pulley block with a side plate that opens to allow placement of the cable directly onto
the pulley; allow the changing of direction of the cable when the anchor point is offset

Socket Termination
A type of rope fitting used to end a length of wire rope; common types: wedge, spelter,
and swage sockets

Spreader Beam
A below-the-hook lifting device used to add stability to a load that has a single or
multiple attachment points; distribute the load across more than one point

Swivel Hoist Ring

A device used to create a pivoting rigging connection point for lifting

Synthetic Sling
A sling made from nylon, polyester, aramid, Kevlar, Dacron, polyethylene, or Nomex
fibers; constructed with metal or eye ends that require sewing; may be subject to more
rapid degradation than an endless loop
Back to top

T
Tag Line
Long ropes attached to the load that allow ground personnel to pivot the load as it
swings on the crane’s hook to prevent the load from colliding with objects near it

Tipping Axis
An imaginary line created by the parts of a crane in contact with the ground on its
loaded side

Tipping Moment
Point at which a load causes the crane to rotate (tip) at its tipping axis due to excessive
load weight and/or boom extension

Turnbuckle
A device used to adjust the tension or length of ropes, cables, and other tensioning
systems; often configured with eye, jaw, or hook ends

Glossary-9
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Two Blocking
Occurs when the block or headache ball makes contact with the sheaves at the boom
tip
Back to top

U
Universal Processor
An excavator attachment with up to six different types of jaws to chew up most any
structural material
Back to top

V
Vertical Hitch
One eye of the sling is placed on the hook and the other end is attached directly to the
load; tag lines often used to prevent load rotation
Back to top

W
Wheel Loader
A piece of heavy equipment with a front-loading bucket used to load many types of
materials

Wire Rope
A rope made from several strands of high-strength steel that are laid together to form a
rope, usually around a central core

Wire Rope Clip

A fitting for clamping parts of wire rope to each other; often used for wire rope
terminations

Wire Rope Sling

A sling made from wire rope

Glossary-10
 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
Heavy Equipment and Rigging Specialist (HERS)
Computer-Based Training (CBT)

Working Load Limit (WLL)

Maximum mass or force a product is authorized to support in general service when the
pull is applied in-line; includes the maximum load an item can lift and the maximum load
an item can lift in a particular configuration or application
Back to top

Glossary-11