In Irish and

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

civil engineering Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewa ...

, a banksman is the person who directs the operation of a crane or larger vehicle from the point near where loads are attached and detached. The term 'dogman' may be used in Australia and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country ...

, while 'spotter' is the more common term in

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

Offshore & Oil and Gas

The general term for a professional banksman offshore is a ‘rigger’ or deck crew. A team of riggers will manage lifting operations. There are specific methods, pieces of equipment, and safety protocol for many different types of loads. Offshore, on rigs or vessels, most equipment and materials will arrive on location, transferred by boat utilising a crane, therefore banksmen play an important role in the marine and offshore industries.

Contemporary

Crane or large vehicle drivers do not always have clear visibility of the loading area, especially when tower cranes are employed. The banksman is in charge of the crane movements from the point of loading and unloading. They may use a system of hand signals or a radio link. A banksman may also be responsible for directing the movement and loading/unloading of lorries, or directing the movement of other plant. A banksman may also control the movements of an excavator, by carefully monitoring the bucket for any obstructions or underground services. In many countries, banksmen are required to meet a regulated standard, such as laid down by the UK's

Health and Safety Executive The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a UK government agency responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in Great Britain. It is a non-depar ...

; in the UK over a quarter of vehicle deaths at work are due to reversing vehicles.

Usage timeline

*1825: the man stationed at the bank or top of a pit who unhooked and emptied the laden corves into carts or wagons, from a frame or stage. *1849: the man who drew the full tubs from the cages at the surface, when wound up by the engine, and replaced them with empty ones; he also put the full tubs to the weighing machine, and thence to the skreens, upon which he teemed the coals. It was also his duty to keep an account of the quantity of coals and stones drawn each day. *1894: a person who controlled the unloading and loading of the cage at the pit top, and signalled the descent of the workmen.

References

External links

RoSPA's Safety course material
Banksman's Signals

Historic use in coal industry.

Cornish Tin Mining Terms.
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals)
The UK Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, PART IX Minimum requirements for hand signals. Construction Construction trades workers {{Job-stub