Basic Rigging Safety

Rigging Devices & The

Rigger

 Rigging device is a rope,

belt, chain or cable used to
lift and move materials by
hoisting with a crane.

A rigger is a skilled person

who prepares heavy
equipment or loads of
material for movement.
Rigging Devices
 Materials Handling, Rigging
& Cranes
The Hazards of
Rigging
 Possible contact with
power lines.
 Rigging failures due to
overloaded, improper, or
defective rigging.
 Out of control loads.
 Being struck by the crane’s
swing radius.
 Materials Handling, Rigging 4
& Cranes 1

Can Anyone Rig or Lift

Loads?

 Rigging must be done

under the supervision of a
Competent Person.
 The crane operator must
be highly qualified and
certified.
 Improper rigging or
unqualified operators can
be deadly!
 Duties Of Crane Operator

 check the condition of the ground

before setting up the crane (on a
building site, for example).

 place timber blocks or steel plates

under the outrigger pads of the crane.
 check that the crane is level on the
outriggers before attempting to lift and
place a load.

 be aware of how much material can be

safely hoisted in each load according
to the crane's capacity and the weather
conditions (high winds, for example).
 ensure that cranes are ready for use
by checking controls, instruments and
gauges.
 Duties Of Crane Operator

 move the crane and position the hook

so that riggers can attach loads, slings,
shackles and chains.

 check crane cabin instruments to

ensure that loads hooked on their
machines are within safe working
limits.

 observe and follow the signals given

by riggers who direct the moving and
positioning of the loads.

 maintain cranes by inspecting them for

defects or wear, lubricate ropes and
winches, and replace worn cables.
 Materials Handling, Rigging
& Cranes

The Riggers’ Duties

 The rigger
selects the
rigging.
 The rigger
sets-up the
rigging.
 The rigger
directs the
lift.
 Materials Handling, Rigging
& Cranes
OSHA Rigging
Requirements
 All slings and hardware must be
manufactured to meet demanding
specifications which include
safety factors.

 All web or alloy chain slings must

be clearly stamped, marked, or
labeled, for capacity.
 OSHA prohibits job made: slings,
hooks, links, and fasteners
formed from bolts.
 Before each use all components
must be inspected by a
Competent Person.
 COMPETENT PERSON

- ALL CRANE OPERATORS AND

RIGGERS MUST HAVE
UNDERGONE PROPER TRAINING
ON EQUIPMENT OPERATION AND
BASIC RIGGING SAFETY.

- AND MUST BE TESDA CERTIFIED.

 Materials Handling, Rigging
& Cranes
Safe Working Load
(SWL)
 The maximum load allowed
on rigging is the Safe
Working Load (SWL).
 The sling may actually be
able to hold 5 times the SWL.
A safety factor is the ratio of
the ultimate strength to the
SWL.
 Ifa rigger exceeds the SWL,
then they lose some of the
safety factor.
Knowing Safe Working
Loads
 Materials Handling, Rigging
& Cranes

Sling Angle
 Thesafest sling angles are
greater than 450 from the
horizontal.
Rigging the Load

Sling angles <450,

load unstable, worker
not protected.

Balanced load;
sling angle >600
 Working Safely Around
Rigging
 General safety practices:
– Keep at least ten feet away
from power lines up to 50 kV.
– Increase power line
clearance distance by 4” per
kV >50kV
– Never hoist loads over
workers.
– Never stand too close or
under a load.
– Never ride a load.
 Materials Handling, Rigging
& Cranes
Working Safely Around
Rigging
 General safety practices:
– Use tag lines to control
loads while lifting.
– Test lift the rigging.
– Use proper equipment, make
sure it is marked, not home-
made, and in good shape.
Crane Hand Signals

Only a qualified rigger will

give hand signals.
 Basic Crane Safety
 Do we have the right crane for
the job?
 Is the operator qualified on
that crane?
 Has the crane been inspected?
 Is the crane set up on solid
ground?
– Full outriggers with cribbing?
– Level, with tires off the ground?
 Are power line clearances
known?
 Do we know the weight of the
load?
 Is everyone aware that a lift is
being made?
 Basic Crane Safety

 Is the load properly rigged

for a stable, vertical lift?
 Is there a high wind
condition?
 Is the swing radius
barricaded?
 Can a tagline be properly
used?
 Can the crane make the lift
and set the load without
interference?
 TAGLINES
When a crane lifts an object, it can
swing into objects around it, into power
lines or, by swinging, create hazards to
personnel on the ground.

Taglines, long ropes attached to the

load, allow ground personnel to pivot
the load as it swings on the crane’s
hook, so that it doesn't collide with
objects around it.

Taglines must be correctly

attached to the load, not to
the slings or to the hook of the
crane.
 TAGLINES
OSHA defines taglines as made
from soft, fiber lines. Fiber lines,
such as those made from nylon,
polypropylene or natural fiber,
such as sisal, don’t present the
hazards of wire rope.
 A wire rope’s strands may
break. The fishhook-shaped
broken ends of the strands can
cause serious injury to
inadequately gloved personnel.
A wire rope also conducts
electricity and presents a shock
hazard if it contacts a live
electrical system.
USE SIGNAGES
FLY ZONE AREAS
UNSAFE RIGGING
Case Study: What went
wrong?
Two employees
were moving
structural steel
building beams to a
storage area. After
setting the fourth
beam on the crib,
the signal man
signaled the crane
operator to pull the
sling from around a
cribbed structural
beam which was set
on its flange side.
The second
employee then
attempted to
remove the shackle
from the beam when
the swaged fitting of
the sling apparently
caught and caused
the steel beam to
roll off the cribbing,
crushing the second
employee.
THE 2009 ACCIDENT
AT DATEM
ONE ROCKWELL
PROJECT
( WEST TOWER )