Safety Tip of the Week – Rigging Safety

Annually about 50 riggers are killed when loads have slipped from the rigging or when the rigging has failed.

Some do’s and don’ts to remember:

1. Name one member of the crew to act as the signal person and instruct the equipment operator to recognize signals from that person only. The signal person must be careful not to order a move until he/she has received the “all ready” signal from each member of the crew.

2. Each rigger must be sure he or she is in the clear before giving an “all ready” to the signal person. When you have positioned the sling or choker you’re using, release it, if possible, before you give the “all ready” signal.

3. If you must hold it in position, be sure your hand is clear of pinch points. In fact, your hand should be far enough away so there’s no possibility of a frayed wire catching your glove and jerking your hand into a pinch point.

4. Watch out for the roll or swing of the load. Since it’s almost impossible to position the hook exactly over the load center, there will just about always be a swing or roll. Anticipate the direction of the swing or roll and work away from it.

5. Never place yourself between material, equipment, or another stationary object and the load. Also, stay away from stacked material that may be knocked over by a swinging load.

6. Never stand under the load and keep from being under the boom as much as possible. Chances are that nothing will break, but something might.

7. Look over the place where the load is to be set. Remove unnecessary blocks or other objects that might fly up if struck by the load.

8. When lowering, or setting the load, be sure your feet and all other parts of your body are out from under it. Set the load down easily and slowly so that if it rolls on the blocking, it will be a slow shift from which you can get away.

   “Get ‘Hitched’ To Safety… Know How to Rig Loads Properly”