Rigger Course

Lesson 1 • Rigging Industry Overview

Defines the rigging trade, its scope across industries, and the rigger's role in lift operations. Grounds all subsequent technical content in professional context.

Lesson 2 • Personal Protective Equipment for Riggers

Covers compulsory PPE selection, fitting, and maintenance for rigging environments. Directly supports hazard mitigation in all subsequent lift scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Teaches systematic identification of rigging hazards and application of risk-control hierarchies. Prepares students to conduct pre-lift safety reviews.

Lesson 4 • Regulatory Framework and Standards

Introduces governing bodies, safety regulations, and inspection requirements relevant to rigging. Establishes the compliance mindset required throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Spreader Bars and Lifting Beams

Introduces engineered lifting devices that distribute load across multiple attachment points. Prepares students for complex multi-point lift configurations.

Lesson 2 • Blocks, Pulleys, and Sheaves

Explains mechanical advantage principles and the role of blocks and sheaves in rigging systems. Connects hardware knowledge to load-movement efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Hooks, Shackles, and Links

Identifies hook and shackle types, working load limits, and proper mousing or pinning techniques. Forms the basis for all hardware selection decisions.

Lesson 4 • Hardware Inspection and Rejection Criteria

Applies systematic inspection methods to identify worn, damaged, or overloaded hardware. Reinforces a zero-tolerance approach to defective rigging components.

Lesson 1 • Wire Rope Construction and Classification

Explains strand count, core types, and lay direction as they affect rope strength and flexibility. Provides the vocabulary needed for specification and procurement.

Lesson 2 • Wire Rope Capacity and Safety Factors

Covers breaking strength, working load limits, and design factors required by safety standards. Enables accurate capacity selection before any lift.

Lesson 3 • Wire Rope Clips and Flemish Eyes

Details correct clip spacing, torque, and Flemish eye construction for field-made terminations. Prevents under-strength connections caused by improper installation.

Lesson 4 • Wire Rope End Terminations

Teaches swaged fittings, spelter sockets, and mechanical wedge sockets as permanent and field terminations. Ensures students apply the correct termination for each load scenario.

Lesson 1 • Wire Rope Sling Configurations

Covers single-leg, multi-leg, and braided wire rope sling constructions and their rated capacities. Connects wire rope knowledge from Chapter 3 to practical sling selection.

Lesson 2 • Roundsling Construction and Use

Details endless roundsling construction, colour-coded capacity ratings, and protective covers. Prepares students to use roundslings safely on irregular or sensitive loads.

Lesson 3 • Hitch Types and Sling Angle Effects

Applies vertical, choker, and basket hitch configurations and calculates capacity loss from sling angles. Integrates all sling types into practical load-securing decisions.

Lesson 4 • Synthetic Web Sling Selection

Explains nylon and polyester web sling types, fittings, and environmental limitations. Guides students in selecting web slings for delicate or finished load surfaces.

Lesson 1 • Centre of Gravity Determination

Explains how load geometry and mass distribution determine the centre of gravity location. Enables students to predict load tilt and plan attachment points accordingly.

Lesson 2 • Weight Estimation Methods

Teaches volume-based weight calculation using material density tables and manufacturer data. Provides the first step in every safe lift plan.

Lesson 3 • Sling Leg Tension Calculations

Applies trigonometry and sling angle factors to calculate tension in each sling leg. Ensures slings are never loaded beyond their rated capacity.

Lesson 4 • Lift Plan Development

Integrates weight, CG, sling tension, and hardware data into a structured lift plan document. Prepares students to produce plans required for engineered and critical lifts.

Lesson 1 • Outrigger and Setup Requirements

Covers outrigger extension positions, ground bearing pressure, and mat sizing for crane setup. Prevents crane tip-over caused by inadequate ground support.

Lesson 2 • Reading and Interpreting Load Charts

Teaches load chart structure, boom length variables, and radius-to-capacity relationships. Enables riggers to verify that planned lifts fall within rated crane capacity.

Lesson 3 • Lift Zone Planning and Crane Positioning

Applies load chart data to determine optimal crane position, swing arc, and exclusion zones. Integrates crane knowledge with lift plan development from Chapter 5.

Lesson 4 • Crane Capacity Derating Factors

Explains how wind, side loading, boom attachments, and travel affect rated capacity. Ensures riggers apply conservative capacity values in adverse conditions.

Lesson 1 • Standard Single and Multi-Leg Lifts

Executes vertical, two-leg, three-leg, and four-leg sling configurations on representative loads. Reinforces sling angle and tension calculations from Chapter 5 in a practical context.

Lesson 2 • Rigging for Structural Steel and Pipe

Addresses specific rigging challenges for long structural members, pipe bundles, and beams. Applies spreader bars and multi-point hitches introduced in Chapter 2.

Lesson 3 • Tag Line Control and Load Positioning

Teaches tag line attachment, team coordination, and techniques for precise load placement. Prevents uncontrolled load swing during travel and landing.

Lesson 4 • Choker and Basket Hitch Applications

Applies choker and basket hitches to cylindrical, bundled, and irregular loads with appropriate softeners. Develops judgement for hitch selection based on load shape and surface.

Lesson 1 • Upending, Turning, and Tailing Operations

Teaches controlled load rotation from horizontal to vertical using tailing cranes or equipment. Addresses the unique CG shift dynamics that occur during upending.

Lesson 2 • Tandem and Multi-Crane Lifts

Addresses load sharing, communication protocols, and capacity management when two or more cranes lift simultaneously. Requires mastery of load charts and crane positioning from Chapter 6.

Lesson 3 • Defining and Classifying Critical Lifts

Establishes criteria that classify a lift as critical and triggers enhanced planning requirements. Builds on standard lift plan skills from Chapter 5 with added rigour.

Lesson 4 • Engineered Lift Plan Preparation

Covers engineer-of-record involvement, load path analysis, and formal drawing requirements for critical lifts. Ensures students can brief and support engineering review.