Crane Rigger Course

Lesson 1 • Personal Protective Equipment for Riggers

Specifies PPE selection, inspection, and use for rigging environments. Proper PPE use is a baseline safety requirement enforced throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Rigging Terminology and Communication

Introduces standardized hand signals, verbal commands, and written documentation used on lift sites. Accurate communication prevents misunderstandings that cause accidents.

Lesson 3 • Hazard Recognition and Risk Assessment

Teaches systematic identification of rigging hazards including overhead lines, ground conditions, and load instability. Risk assessment skills underpin every safe lift decision.

Lesson 4 • Role and Responsibilities of a Rigger

Defines the rigger's duties within a lift crew and the chain of command. Connects professional accountability to safe lift outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Estimating Load Weight

Teaches methods for calculating weight from dimensions and material density when load data is unavailable. Accurate estimation prevents crane overload.

Lesson 2 • Basic Physics of Lifting

Reviews force, mass, gravity, and equilibrium as they apply to suspended loads. These principles are the foundation for all load and sling calculations.

Lesson 3 • Center of Gravity Determination

Explains how to locate the center of gravity for regular and irregular loads. Correct COG identification ensures stable, level lifts.

Lesson 4 • Lift Plan Calculations

Integrates weight, COG, and rigging geometry into a complete pre-lift calculation set. Students produce lift plan data sheets used in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Wire Rope Rated Capacity

Covers working load limits, design factors, and how rope diameter affects capacity. Correct capacity selection prevents overloading and rope failure.

Lesson 2 • Wire Rope Storage and Maintenance

Covers lubrication, coiling, spooling, and storage conditions that extend rope service life. Proper maintenance preserves rated capacity between inspections.

Lesson 3 • Wire Rope Construction and Classification

Explains strand count, core types, lay direction, and grade designations. Understanding construction enables correct selection for each application.

Lesson 4 • Wire Rope Inspection Procedures

Teaches visual and tactile inspection methods to identify broken wires, kinks, corrosion, and deformation. Inspection skills directly prevent catastrophic rope failure.

Lesson 1 • Hooks: Types and Safe Use

Identifies crane hooks, sorting hooks, and foundry hooks and explains latch, throat, and tip loading rules. Correct hook use prevents load drop.

Lesson 2 • Rings, Links, and Swivels

Explains master rings, pear-shaped links, and swivels used to connect multi-leg sling assemblies. Correct use prevents load rotation and hardware overload.

Lesson 3 • Shackles: Selection and Rigging

Covers screw-pin, bolt-type, and round-pin shackles, their WLL markings, and correct pin orientation. Shackle selection errors are a leading cause of rigging failures.

Lesson 4 • Eyebolts and Hoist Rings

Covers shouldered eyebolts, swivel hoist rings, and their angular load derating requirements. Proper installation prevents pull-out under angular loading.

Lesson 1 • Sling Angle and Capacity Calculations

Applies sling angle factors to calculate actual sling tension for any hitch configuration. Sling angle is the most critical variable in multi-leg rigging capacity.

Lesson 2 • Synthetic Web Slings

Covers nylon and polyester web sling construction, color coding, and chemical compatibility. Web slings protect finished surfaces but require strict chemical exposure management.

Lesson 3 • Chain Slings: Use and Inspection

Explains alloy chain grades, WLL markings, and temperature derating for chain slings. Chain slings are preferred for high-temperature and abrasive load conditions.

Lesson 4 • Wire Rope Sling Configurations

Covers single-leg, two-leg, three-leg, and four-leg wire rope sling assemblies and their rated capacities. Configuration selection determines load control and capacity.

Lesson 1 • Load Chart Fundamentals

Explains load chart structure, radius, boom length, and configuration variables. Accurate load chart reading is the rigger's primary tool for confirming lift feasibility.

Lesson 2 • Crane Types and Applications

Surveys mobile, tower, overhead, and gantry cranes and their typical applications. Knowing crane type capabilities guides rigger decisions on rigging geometry.

Lesson 3 • Crane Structural Components

Identifies boom, jib, counterweight, outriggers, and hoist drum components. Riggers must recognize components to assess crane setup and communicate with operators.

Lesson 4 • Crane Inspection and Pre-Lift Checks

Details daily and periodic crane inspection items the rigger must verify before a lift begins. Rigger inspection complements operator inspection for a complete safety check.

Lesson 1 • Pre-Lift Meeting and Crew Briefing

Explains how to conduct a pre-lift meeting that aligns all crew members on the plan, signals, and abort criteria. Effective briefings reduce execution errors.

Lesson 2 • Developing the Written Lift Plan

Guides students through completing a lift plan document including load data, crane configuration, and rigging details. A complete lift plan is the communication tool for all lift participants.

Lesson 3 • Site Survey and Lift Zone Planning

Covers pre-lift site surveys, exclusion zone establishment, and travel path planning. A thorough site survey eliminates surprises that cause accidents during execution.

Lesson 4 • Lift Execution and Load Control

Covers tag line use, load control during travel, and set-down procedures. Controlled execution from pick to placement prevents load swing and collision.

Lesson 1 • Rigging in Confined and Restricted Spaces

Covers rigging techniques when access, headroom, or swing radius is severely limited. Restricted-space lifts require modified rigging geometry and enhanced hazard controls.

Lesson 2 • Structural Steel and Pipe Rigging

Addresses rigging techniques for beams, columns, pipe, and bundled material with limited pick points. Structural steel rigging requires precise COG location and controlled rotation.

Lesson 3 • Tandem and Multi-Crane Lifts

Explains load sharing, communication protocols, and capacity derating for lifts using two or more cranes. Tandem lifts require engineered plans and synchronized operator actions.

Lesson 4 • Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices

Covers spreader bars, lifting beams, vacuum lifters, and magnets used to control load geometry. Device selection is driven by load shape, surface, and pick point availability.