crane hand signals

Crane Hand Signals

Clear Communication on Job Sites – Civil Rigging

Why are crane hand signals for clear communication on job sites so important for Civil Rigging?

Knowing the correct crane hand signals and how to properly communicate them can mean the difference between safety and injury on the job.

According to Ralf Notheis, Manager of Bigfoot Crane Academy, “Miscommunication is dangerous and has been the root cause of countless accidents on jobsites. But with proper training, many of these costly and dangerous mistakes can be avoided.”

Anyone who has been on a busy and noisy worksite knows the essential importance of hand signals. For the safety of everyone on site, riggers need to be able to communicate clearly with the equipment operators in a way that ensures understanding. Both parties need to be proficient in a common language and they need to give each other their careful attention as they go about their work. Effective communication between riggers and operators using recognized signals is crucial.

Notheis emphasizes that clarity is critical, which means that an operator must never move equipment based on an unclear signal.

“There are some very practical ways to help ensure clear communication through hand signals,” says Notheis, “such as wearing tight-fitting gloves and positioning hands so they are more visible to the operator.”

No matter what kind of heavy machinery you’re working with, learning how to effectively use correct hand signals is essential.

To learn more about how to communicate clearly on a job site, check out our Civil Rigging Course by clicking the link below.