A Guide On Crane Rigging Services

Rigging services are a must-have when using cranes on your construction site. However, most people do not hire riggers since they do not understand the benefits of these professionals. Below are a few things you should know about crane riggers. 

Who Are Crane Riggers? 

Crane riggers are professionals who aid in crane installation, operation and maintenance. They are not crane operators; however, they work alongside the operator to prevent fatal crane accidents. Typically, the rigger is the operator's eyes on the ground. They assess the prevailing conditions to determine whether it is safe to operate the crane. Moreover, the riggers direct the crane operator as they hoist or lower loads. 

Crane Rigger Qualifications

In Australia, crane riggers must undergo formal training in registered training organisations. There are different classes of rigger licences, each allowing the rigger to handle specific rigging tasks. They are the basic (RB), intermediate (RI), and advanced rigging (RA) licences. Nevertheless, your preferred rigger should have some experience in the field. As such, it is wise to consider company-appointed riggers since they understand the operation of the crane deployed to the site. Moreover, they have an existing working relationship with the crane operator. The crane rigger should have a high-risk work licence to guarantee that they understand the safety precautions they should take to protect their lives and other employees when rigging cranes. 

Benefits Of Crane Riggers

The presence of a rigger on your construction site guarantees crane safety. In most cases, the operator is preoccupied with hoisting and lowering the crane; hence it becomes challenging for them to ensure safety at the site. Once the crane arrives at the site, the rigger provides other employees with a crash course on crane safety. For example, they inform them how the crane will swing and its hoisting and lowering locations. Moreover, the rigger trains the employees on the precautions they should take when the crane is working. For instance, they must ensure they are within the operator's view and not in the blind spots. The rigger also shows the personnel how to communicate with the operator. If the site does not have walkie-talkies, they could use bright flags to communicate with the operator. 

The rigger also recommends appropriate safety signage to use when the crane is in use. For instance, you could barricade the area to prevent non-essential personnel from accessing the area. The rigger also inspects the crane periodically to ensure it is safe to use. If not, the rigger conducts repairs or calls a specialised team to repair the crane.

For more information on rigging services, contact a professional near you.