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Learn how to become a certified hoist operator in just 3 days with Bigfoot Crane Academy, covering everything from basic requirements to certification.
Rigging in construction involves lifting and moving heavy objects using various equipment. Essential for any project, it requires setting up materials and employing the right apparatus for safe and efficient operations.
This guide outlines steps for preparing construction projects for winter, focusing on worker safety, equipment maintenance, and using appropriate accessories; emphasizing the importance of preparation and adaptation for successful winter construction.
Bigfoot’s Year in Review: Celebrating Growth, Retirements, and Community Spirit” on Bigfoot Crane’s website reflects on the company’s significant accomplishments in 2023. It highlights their expansion and milestones, including the retirement of key team members and their active involvement in community projects. The post encapsulates a year marked by both growth and transition, emphasizing Bigfoot Crane’s commitment to maintaining strong community ties and delivering top-quality service in the construction industry.
Explore a career in crane operation with insights from BC Crane Safety’s webinar, covering certification, safety, and industry growth.
“We had a concrete pour scheduled for Friday before the long weekend,” said Justin Tanguay, of DJM Contracting in Rossland, B.C., “but our crane was down.”
Justin and his team were well aware that concrete was in high demand at the time. So, rescheduling a pour could completely mess up project planning. “There was something wrong with the slew motor on our…
Riggers need to be aware of various types of hitches, so that they can determine which configuration is best for the particular load they are lifting.
The four main categories of hitches are:
- Vertical hitch
- Bridle hitch
- Basket hitch
- Choker hitch
According to Ralf Notheis, Manager of Bigfoot Crane Academy, choosing the best hitch for a load is about ensuring stability. “When it comes to lifting loose material, long material, or anything else that’s difficult to balance,” says Notheis, “the rigger needs to be able to decide the best hitch to keep that load intact and secure.”
Within each category of hitches, there are variations that provide flexibility regarding the size and shape of the load. For example, certain hitches include multiple slings, which can be configured to maximize stability and minimize slipping or tilting.
For certain loads, especially those with loose bundles of objects such as pipes, particular hitches are required. Riggers need to know these requirements, so that they can quickly and confidently determine what hitch is needed in any given situation.
In cases when riggers are actively using multiple slings to lift loads, it is also very important to secure all unused sling legs when changing hitch configurations.
In Bigfoot’s Civil Rigging Course, riggers become familiar with the various types of hitches, and they are given practice in choosing the best configuration in a variety of scenarios.
The goal of Bigfoot’s training is to help riggers work safely and efficiently. Rigging hitches is just one of the many areas that riggers are educated about, so that they can bring confidence and professionalism to their job sites.
To learn more about how to choose the best hitches for your loads, enroll in our Civil Rigging Course by clicking the button below.
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Inspecting Civil Rigging – Keys to Safety
Inspecting civil rigging should be something every rigger nows how to do. They also need to be able to check their equipment with confidence to determine whether it is safe and ready to use or it is unsafe and in need of removal.
According to Ralf Notheis, Manager of Bigfoot Crane Academy, there are basic standards for every piece of equipment that riggers use on a regular basis. “It’s essential for riggers to know the rejection criteria for hooks, shackles, and slings,” says Notheis. “If they don’t, then they’re putting themselves and others at risk of using damaged and dangerous rigging equipment.”
Most rigging hardware comes with the manufacturer’s name and specifications on it and should not be used if this information cannot be found or if the condition of the hardware does not meet the specifications. There are dependable ways to check for wear, cracks, corrosion, and deformation, so that unreliable equipment can be discarded.
In Bigfoot’s Civil Rigging Course, every rigger is taught how to identify not only if their equipment meets the basic standards of use, but also if it’s being used in the proper way. “Using the right hardware incorrectly,” says Notheis, “is as dangerous as using damaged equipment.”
An educated and equipped rigger is able to spot sling angles and hook connections that are incorrect. They are also able to identify makeshift fitting when they see it, so they can either avoid its use or determine whether it has been certified by a professional engineer.
Once again, the point of Bigfoot’s training is to keep riggers safe on the job. Defective equipment is the most common cause of accident and injury when performing lifts. However, using the right hardware in the right way makes rigging safe and efficient.
To learn more about inspecting civil rigging with confidence, enroll in our Civil Rigging Course by clicking the button below.
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After a rigger determines the weight of a load, the next critical step in planning a safe and successful lift is determining the centre of gravity (COG). If the COG is not directly below the hook, the result will be an unstable…
Photo courtesy of David Gosse
Photo courtesy of David Gosse
