Adequate Rigging Training Removes Potential Risks That May Cost Your Company Millions In Damages

By Author: Alice Pollard
Total Articles: 3
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Construction sites are places where accidents could happen. Working in an environment where there is nothing between you and the ground below is a risky proposition. That's why fall protection is necessary. When you've got people working at these insane levels, you have to give them all the support they require. When someone falls and dies, you have to pay the family of the victim. In the end, an accident such as this will cost your company millions of dollars in damages. What you want is to avoid something horrible like this.

A fall protection seminar eradicates this risk. It teaches employees about the potential dangers of their work environment. You need to instill in your employees the proper behavior when working up high. Anyone who exhibits risky behavior and lack of respect for the safety procedures is a liability. This could affect the stability of your work place.

While minor fall and slip injuries are easy to get over, the vast majority of deadly accidents occur with falls from great heights. This is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) in the United States is the regulating body ...
... keeping track of construction site safety. There are set standards in place which are there to protect workers. This training is required when working from heights of 6 feet (1.8m) and up.

One of the more specialized courses the OHSA endorses is rigging training. Working on construction rigs and other heavy equipment is a risky affair. Remember, you are operating machines which are elevated high above the ground. Anyone that would not pass any of the OHSA certified rigging training courses is in direct violation of the law. You should ensure your construction personnel pass these tests before letting them climb into the control booth.

In the US, you have to take and pass a written and practical exam to be authorized as a rigger. This process is similar in other industrialized countries. This written exam consists of several rigging-specific questions. The practical exam, on the other hand, allows testers to show their knowledge in real job situations. There are two certifications a rigger will be able to aspire for - Level I and Level II. You need to take these exams in chronological order. You can't take Level II unless you have successfully passed Level I.

A good rigging training program must cover all rigging related functions. Examples include learning signals, estimating weight loads, and understanding how to tie basic knots and hitch configurations. This program is helpful for a variety of professions. Carpenters, millwrights, longshoremen, and pipe fitters are just some of the individuals who benefit from taking a course.

Construction, demolition, and freight companies ought to employ individuals who have passed both rigging training courses. This assures them of workers that can move heavy loads when needed. It also helps people that want to advance further in their construction careers. Having passed both certification courses is an asset to anybody trying to find a marketable job skill.

If you have previous rigging training, you might not have to take the exam to pass. If you're comfortable knowing what you know, all that you should do is study the latest handbooks offered by the appropriate certifying institute. In the United States, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) provides rigging certification. Recertification is required every five years. The advantage of it is that it just requires the written portion of the exam, so long as your certification hasn't expired.

Alice Pollard is seeking a fall protection company that can offer rigging training.