This document provides guidance on safety practices for riggers and signalmen involved in lifting operations using cranes. It outlines proper personal protective equipment, roles and responsibilities, good and bad rigging practices, inspection of lifting equipment, common types of wear for wire ropes, recommended crane hand signals, and good communication practices. The roles of riggers include properly preparing and inspecting rigging equipment, while signalmen safely direct crane operations through standardized hand signals. Rigging practices around load securing, sling usage, and inspection help prevent accidents. Regular inspection and replacement of worn lifting gear is also important for safety. The document aims to promote safe working practices for rigging and signaling activities.

1. Preface 3
Proper Attire for Rigger and 5ign alman 4
Roles and Responsibilities of a Rigger
Good and BadRigging Practices 12
In sPectio n of HOoks an d Shac kl es 26
Types of Wear and Tear for Wire Ropes 28
Roles and Responsibilities of a Signalman 3I
Recommended Crane Hand Signals 33
Good Communication Practices 36
2

2. Preface
Thls handbook serves as a workplace safety and health
resource for workers who are involved In work activities
involving lifting equipment such as cranes. The Rigger and
Signalman handbook highlights general safety pointers to
ensure safe lifting operations. This handbook Is Intended to
assist the Rigger and Signalman to better understand thelr
roles and responsibilities, show examples of good and bad
practices for loading and rigging, perform basic inspection
of lifnng equipment suth as hooM, shackles and wlre ropes,
adhere to good communication practices, and recognise crane
hand signals.
This handbook is produced for education and Informajonal
purposes by the NationalCrane Safety Taskforce and Workplace
Safety and Health Council and serves as a reference for
good practices.
1.Proper Attire for Rigger
and Signalman
Wear personal protective equipment (PPE)
Put on the proper attire and PPEat all times
Figure1: Slgnalmanattire Figure3: Riggerattire

3. 2. Roles and Responsibilities of
a Rigger
3. Roles and Responsibilities of
a Rigger

4. 4.Roles and Responsibilities of
a Rigger
5.Rolesand Responsibilitiesof
aRgqer

5. 6. Roles and Responsibilities of
aRigger
7. Roles and Responsibilities of
aRigger
lmmodfateIy reportawy defective
or faulty IiMriggear to theLifting
Superrtsor.

6. 11
8.Roles and Responsibilities of
aRigger
9. Good and Bad Rigging Practices
Figure 3: Useshackle whenever possible
F-igure 4: Anstire ilaackle 's positioned correc:ly
12

7. 0. Good and Bad Rigging Practices 11. Good and Bad Rigging Practice

8. Figure 9: Wrqng hooking upmethod.
'12. GoodandBadRiggingPractices
Figurel0: SecunelhehoolsfadngoUr
Figure I y: D
Onot securethe
hooks facing In.
rigure i 7: oonocwrap arope
around the hook.

9. j 7
13. Good and Bad Rigging Practices 14. Good and Bad Rigging Practices
18

10. 15. Good and Bad Rigging Practices
Figure 1S: Make sure any unused slings arc hooked up proper(y.
Figure I6: Do not leave unused slinqs unhooked.
16. Good and BadRigging Practices
Load

11. z3
19. Good and Bad Rigging Practices
Figure 23: Use the original screw pin for the shackle.
Figure 24: Do not use abolt as a screw pin as it will bend.
Z0. Good and BadRigging Practices
Usdtagttne wtthsufBdentlesgthaod
J4

12. 2J. GoodandBadRiggingPractices
Correct methozl of unloading
Figure 25: Donot pull eut the sling from undarnaath the load
because h wfll damage theding.
22. Inspection ofHooksandShackles
Check hook for any defects and make sure
it is in pood work ing condition
Check fa
cracksand
twisting
Checlt for weat and
defomation
Bgns of
(-Open
'Check for wear andcracks

13. 23. Inspection of Hooks and Shackles 24. Types of Wear and Tear for Wire
Ropes

14. 25. Typesof WearandTearfor WireRopes
Figure 32: Bird cage.
Figure 33: Dog leg kink
Figure 34, Kink. Mgure 3S:
Gpen kink.
Figure 36:
Closed ton k.
26. TypesofWear andTearfor WireRopes
Figure 37: Bulged severely.
Figure 30! Ex‹es Sive tlearance bedwe+n screrd s

15. 27. Roles and Responsibilities of
a Signalman
28. Roles and Responsibilities of
a Signalman

16. 29. Recommended CraneHand Signals
JibUp Jib Down
Derric1ing Jib
Figure10: Signal withonehan<LOcher hancl onhea<L
travel tome Travel from me
Figure 41. Signal withbolh hands.
Lower
Figure 42: Clench and untlenth fingers to signal
take the strain.
Slew Lefr Slew Right
Flgure 43: Armextended,pointing with finger in
dliectlon of suing ofboom.

17. JS
ExtendJib/
TrolleyOut
Retract Jib/
Trolley In
Teles‹oping Jib/Horizontal Jib
Figure 44: Slqndvdtha1elend.Otforhandori head
Eme gency
Stop
Figure45: filench and unciencti fingers to signal
Inch theload.
30. GoodCommunication Practices

18. zt
17. Good and Bad Rigging Practices
Figure 9- Colreef ways of usii›g padding* co prevent damage tc
Ihe sling.
Figure 20: The sling xvill he damaged if pacldings are nor used on
the load.
18. Good and Bad Rigging Practices
Figure 21: When using a -I legged sling, make use of link• to join
rhe crane haol‹ to the sling eyes.
Fig ure 22: V/rong illethod oF joining the sling eyes.
22

19. 31. Good Communication Practices
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