5 Rules for Safe Rigging

Rigging is a crucial aspect in industrial applications involving the relocation of heavy loads and equipment. When performing a rigging task, workers’ safety should be of the utmost concern. Inappropriate load rigging can cause accidental slips — leading to property damage and exposing riggers and other nearby workers to safety hazards, injuries, or even death.

To ensure all loads are carefully and properly rigged before any lifting procedure is performed, every rigger should adhere to the following five rules for safe rigging.

1. Let Qualified Workers Do the Job

All the workers at the job site should be certified on rigging safety. The workers undertaking the rigging task should be trained to comply with all the rigging procedures and equipment handling. Professional riggers can foresee an imminent rigging problem before it happens. If conditions are unsafe, this group of experts will immediately stop the cranes or other material-handling equipment to ensure the load in question is secure for lifting.

2. Make Sure the Equipment and Environment Is Safe

Before any lifting task is performed, a qualified person should conduct a thorough inspection of the crane and other handling equipment to make sure that they are safe. Never dismiss any technical issue as minor, as it may cause serious accidents. Ensure that you use machinery that has been certified to be in top-notch working condition. Furthermore, make sure that weather conditions are also favorable for your rigging project.

3. Make Sure That the Load Is Balanced

An unbalanced load can cause a crane to tip over, so riggers and spotters should practice some common rigging safety checks to make sure the load is balanced before lifting.

· Check that the upper suspension forms a straight line with the load hook before lifting.

· Check that neither the chain nor the crane’s body is in contact with the load.

· Mark the crane’s center of gravity

· Ensure that the load has enough swinging space.

4. Always Have a Qualified Spotter on Site

Spotters, or signalpersons, serve as a critical second set of eyes when riggers don’t have a clear view of the load, as they have a higher vantage point than that of the machine operator. It is imperative to hire only qualified, professional spotters who are trained on both hand and voice signals for job site crane operation.

5. Store Your Equipment Safely

Once your rigging job is over, keep your equipment in a place where it cannot be destroyed by environmental or other conditions. Ensure that you proactively inspect your equipment to make it safe for the next task.

By practicing the above rigging rules, you are sure to reduce your chances of accidents, injuries, and property damage on your job site. To further improve the overall safety of your workers, turn to Certified Slings & Supply® for high-quality rigging tools, equipment, and safety instruction. To learn more about our extensive products and services, give us a call today at 1-800-486-5542.