Rigging is a technical discipline that combines engineering knowledge, specialised equipment, and practical skill to safely lift, move, and position heavy loads. For anyone who needs to understand rigging — whether as a client commissioning a project, a site manager responsible for lifting operations, or someone considering a career in the industry — this article explains the fundamentals of rigging, the equipment involved, and why it matters.
What Is Rigging?
Rigging is the system of ropes, chains, slings, and mechanical devices used to support and move heavy loads safely. The word “rigging” comes from the maritime industry, where it referred to the ropes and gear used to control a sailing vessel’s sails and spars. In modern industrial usage, rigging refers to the full discipline of planning and executing the safe movement of heavy equipment and structures in manufacturing, construction, mining, and related industries.
What Are the Main Types of Rigging Equipment?
Professional rigging relies on a range of specialised equipment, each type serving a specific purpose:
- Wire rope slings — made from multiple strands of steel wire twisted together, offering high strength and resistance to abrasion. Used for most heavy industrial lifting.
- Chain slings — alloy steel chains rated for specific lifting capacities. Highly durable and resistant to heat and cutting hazards. Available in single and multiple-leg configurations.
- Webbing slings — made from synthetic fibres (typically polyester or nylon), these are lighter and gentler on load surfaces than wire or chain. Used for sensitive equipment and finished surfaces.
- Shackles — forged steel connectors used to join slings to hooks, spreader beams, and load attachments. Available as bow shackles (for multi-directional loads) and dee shackles (for in-line loads).
- Spreader beams — rigid steel beams that distribute a lift across multiple pick points, preventing sling forces from being applied inward to the load.
- Chain blocks and lever hoists — manually operated mechanical devices for fine-positioning and controlled load movement.
- Cranes — mobile cranes, tower cranes, and overhead cranes provide the primary lifting power for industrial rigging operations.
What Skills Does a Professional Rigger Need?
A professional rigger must understand load dynamics — including weight estimation, centre of gravity determination, and sling tension calculations. They must be familiar with the safe working loads and discard criteria for all types of rigging equipment. They must be able to read and apply a lift plan, and to communicate effectively with crane operators and supervisors using standardised signals. And they must have a thorough understanding of the health and safety requirements that govern lifting operations in South Africa — including the OHSA Lifting Machine Regulations and the relevant SANS standards.
Why Is Rigging Equipment Quality So Important?
The consequences of rigging equipment failure during a lift can be catastrophic. A dropped load can destroy valuable equipment, destroy property, and cause serious injury or death. This is why South African law requires all rigging tackle to be load tested and certified, and why professional rigging companies maintain and inspect their equipment rigorously. Inferior or uncertified equipment has no place on a professional rigging project — and clients should always ask to see current load test certificates before any lift begins.
Reef Rigging uses only certified, regularly inspected rigging equipment on every project. Contact the team to find out how we can help with your rigging requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions: Rigging Basics
What is the safe working load (SWL) of rigging equipment?
The safe working load (SWL) — also called the working load limit (WLL) — is the maximum load that a piece of rigging equipment is rated to carry under specified conditions. The SWL is marked on all certified rigging tackle and is the load that must not be exceeded during normal operations. It incorporates a safety factor over the equipment’s proof test load to allow for variations in loading conditions, equipment wear, and manufacturing tolerances.
What is the difference between a rigger and a crane operator?
A rigger is responsible for attaching the load to the crane using the correct rigging configuration, signalling the crane operator during the lift, and guiding the load safely to its destination. A crane operator is responsible for operating the crane in response to the rigger’s signals. Both roles require separate qualifications — crane operators hold a crane operator certificate, while riggers must have a recognised rigging qualification. On most professional operations, these functions are separate, with a designated banksman providing all signals to the crane operator.
How do I know if rigging equipment is safe to use?
Rigging equipment is safe to use if it has a valid load test certificate from an approved inspection authority, it has been physically inspected by a competent person before this use, it shows no visible signs of damage (broken wires, cuts, deformation, corrosion, or elongation beyond discard limits), and the rated capacity marked on the equipment is sufficient for the intended load at the planned rigging angle. If any of these conditions are not met, the equipment must not be used.