Good rigging practice is not a collection of vague principles — it is a set of specific, proven behaviours that protect personnel, equipment, and project outcomes on every lift. This article identifies the core tenets of good rigging practice that professional riggers and site managers in South Africa should follow on every project.
Plan Every Lift Before You Execute It
Good rigging practice begins with planning. No lift — however routine it appears — should be carried out without confirming the load weight, selecting the correct rigging configuration, verifying crane capacity at the planned radius, and identifying the hazards involved. For complex or critical lifts, this planning must be documented in a formal lift plan. Even for routine lifts, a pre-lift briefing ensures that everyone on site knows their role, the sequence, and the signals to be used.
Inspect All Equipment Before Every Use
Every piece of rigging equipment — slings, shackles, hooks, spreader beams, and chain blocks — must be physically inspected before it is deployed. This takes minutes and can prevent equipment failure during a lift. Inspectors look for broken wires, kinks, cuts, corrosion, deformation, and missing or illegible identification tags. Any equipment that fails inspection is removed from service immediately. This is not optional — it is a legal requirement under the OHSA.
Use the Right Equipment for the Job
Using the wrong rigging equipment — the wrong sling type, an undersized shackle, the wrong crane for the radius — is one of the leading causes of rigging incidents. Good rigging practice means matching the equipment to the demands of the specific lift, not using whatever is available. A sling rated for 2 tonnes in a vertical configuration may only be safe for 1 tonne when rigged at 60 degrees from vertical. Calculate sling tensions based on actual angles, not just total load weight.
Communicate Clearly and Consistently
Poor communication causes incidents. On every lift, one person — the banksman or lift supervisor — gives all commands to the crane operator. Standardised signals (either hand signals or radio commands) are used, and the crane operator moves only in response to those signals. Before any lift begins, the banksman confirms that all team members understand the sequence, their roles, and the emergency procedure. During the lift, the banksman does not leave their position until the load is set down and secured.
Never Exceed Equipment Capacity
The safe working load (SWL) of rigging equipment and the rated capacity of cranes must never be exceeded. Good practice requires operating at a margin below maximum capacity — typically no more than 80 to 85% of rated capacity for standard lifts — to allow for dynamic loading, weight estimation inaccuracies, and the effects of wind and movement. If a lift requires more capacity than is available, source the right equipment rather than overloading what you have.
Reef Rigging follows best-practice rigging procedures on every project. Learn about our health and safety approach or contact the team for professional rigging services.
Frequently Asked Questions: Good Rigging Practice
What are the most important rigging safety rules?
The most important rigging safety rules are: never exceed the rated capacity of any lifting equipment, always plan and document a lift plan before a critical lift begins, inspect all rigging equipment before each use, use only one banksman to give signals to the crane operator, keep all non-essential personnel clear of the load and the crane’s operating radius, and never stand under a suspended load. These rules apply on every project, regardless of how routine the lift appears.
What is the “two-block” hazard in crane operations?
Two-blocking occurs when the hook block is hoisted so high that it contacts the boom tip sheave — destroying the rope and causing the load to fall. It is one of the most dangerous hazards in crane operation, and is why all modern cranes are fitted with anti-two-block (ATB) protection systems. Good rigging practice requires checking that the ATB system is functional before each use and understanding the crane’s maximum safe hook height in the planned configuration before lifting begins.