Rigging is both a noun, the equipment, and verb, the action of designing and installing the equipment, in the preparation to move objects. A team of ''riggers'' design and install the lifting or rolling equipment needed to raise, roll, slide or lift objects such as heavy machinery, structural components, building materials, or large-scale fixtures with a crane, hoist or block and tackle. ''Rigging'' comes from ''rig'', to set up or prepare. Rigging is the equipment such as

wire rope Steel wire rope (right hand lang lay) Wire rope is composed of as few as two solid, metal wires twisted into a helix that forms a composite ''rope'', in a pattern known as ''laid rope''. Larger diameter wire rope consists of multiple strands of ...

, turnbuckles,

clevis A clevis fastener is a two-piece fastener system consisting of a ''clevis'' and a ''clevis pin head''. Terms The ''clevis'' is a U-shaped piece that has holes at the end of the prongs to accept the clevis pin. The ''clevis pin'' is similar to a ...

, jacks used with cranes and other lifting equipment in

material handling Material handling involves short-distance movement within the confines of a building or between a building and a transportation vehicle. It uses a wide range of manual, semi-automated, and automated equipment and includes consideration of the pro ...

and

structure relocation A structure relocation is the process of moving a structure from one location to another. There are two main ways for a structure to be moved: disassembling and then reassembling it at the required destination, or transporting it whole. For the ...

. Rigging systems commonly include

shackle A shackle (or shacklebolt), also known as a gyve, is a U-shaped piece of metal secured with a clevis pin or Bolt (fastener), bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism. The term also appl ...

s, master links and slings, and lifting bags in underwater lifting. In the United States th
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
regulates workplace safety including rigging in CFR 1926.251. The

Health and Safety Executive The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a British public body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare. It has additionally adopted a research role into occupational risks in Great B ...

is responsible for the matters in the United Kingdom.

Equipment

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Winch A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) or otherwise adjust the tension (physics), tension of a rope or wire rope (also called "cable" or "wire cable"). In its simplest form, it consists of a Bobb ...

Procedures

In order to rig, there are several standard steps that should be followed, in order to ensure safety and efficiency in the rigging process: Planning - First, one must determine the mass, dimensions and center of gravity of the load being rigged. Based off this information, and the environment the load is present in, one must then determine the appropriate lifting gear needed to move the load. Inspection - Check slings, hooks, shackles, and lifting appliances for wear, damage, or expiry of certification. Setting Up Rigging – Rig lifting gear properly to load anchor points utilizing proper rigging methods such as vertical, basket, or choker hitches. Communication – Notify all the members present on hand signals or radio communication before initiating the lift. Conducting the Lift – Execute the lift slowly and gradually while balancing and stabilizing. Use taglines in the control of load movement. Post-lift Inspection – Lower the load safely, remove rigging, and check gear prior to storage.

Safety

Safety should be a top priority whilst rigging, as extremely heavy loads are usually involved, and handling heavy material has its hazards. Dropped loads, equipment failure, and pinch trauma are all potential risks present when rigging. Usual safety measures include: Training and Certification – Only trained riggers and signalmen should carry out or supervise rigging operations. PPE Usage – People who are rigging should wear hard hats, gloves, steel-toed boots, and high-visibility vests. Load Limits – Never exceed the Working Load Limit (WLL) of rigging equipment. Load Path Awareness – Never stand under a suspended load. Weather Considerations – Never rig in windy or low-visibility weather conditions. Taglines – Use taglines to prevent uncontrolled load swinging.

Gallery

File:A Humvee is rigged at the Heavy Drop Rigging Facility near Pope Field on Fort Bragg, N.C., June 7, 2012 120607-A-FC254-001.jpg, A Humvee is ''rigged'' for being airdropped at the Heavy Drop Rigging Facility near Pope Field at Fort Bragg, N.C. File:The Royal Danish Navy submarine Her Danish Majesty's Ship HDMS Saelen is lifted aboard the German contract vessel Grietje -c.jpg, The rigging is the two frameworks, spreaders, wire ropes and related fittings used by the crane to pick up this submarine. File:Blade Dragon, Installing a single blade, Liftra.jpg, An advanced rigging challenge assembling a

wind turbine A wind turbine is a device that wind power, converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. , hundreds of thousands of list of most powerful wind turbines, large turbines, in installations known as wind farms, were generating over ...

. File:Kölner Dom - Abbau südöstliches Gerüst Nordturm-2933.jpg, An adjustable spreader bar with

webbing file:Webbing.jpg, red, blue and black nylon webbing as used in auto racing harnesses Webbing is a strong Textile, fabric weaving, woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibres, often used in place of rope. It is a versatile componen ...

slings.

References

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External links