Misconceptions about rigging and heavy equipment moving are surprisingly common — and some of them can lead to poor contractor choices, inadequate safety management, or unrealistic project expectations. This article addresses the most persistent myths about industrial rigging and heavy machinery moving, and sets the record straight with facts that will help you make better decisions for your next project.
Myth 1: All Rigging Companies Are Essentially the Same
This is one of the most dangerous misconceptions in the industry. On the surface, many rigging contractors appear to offer similar services — cranes, riggers, trucks. But the differences in quality, safety management, equipment certification, and experience are enormous. A rigging company with poorly maintained equipment, uncertified operators, or inadequate lift planning processes is not equivalent to a company with a fully documented safety management system, certified equipment, and experienced permanent staff. The consequences of choosing the wrong contractor can be catastrophic — for your machinery, your facility, and your personnel.
The truth: Rigging companies vary significantly in quality. Evaluate contractors on their track record, equipment certification status, safety record, staff qualifications, and the quality of their pre-project planning process — not just on their price.
Myth 2: The Cheapest Quote Is the Best Value
The lowest price quotation for a rigging project almost never represents the best value. An unusually low price may indicate that the contractor is using uncertified equipment, employing untrained casual labour, skipping required planning and documentation, or simply underestimating the complexity of the project. Any of these can result in project delays, equipment damage, or a serious incident — all of which cost far more than the saving achieved by choosing the cheap option.
The truth: Evaluate rigging quotations based on what is included, not just the total price. A comprehensive quote that includes site survey, method statement, certified equipment, and adequate crew may cost more upfront but consistently delivers better project outcomes than a stripped-down, low-priced alternative.
Myth 3: If the Machinery Has Moved Before, You Don’t Need a Lift Plan
Even if a piece of machinery has been moved many times before, each move is a new operation with potentially different site conditions, rigging configurations, and hazards. A lift plan is prepared for the specific lift in the specific conditions — it cannot simply be reused from a previous project. The personnel, equipment, site layout, and ground conditions may all be different. And regardless of how many times a lift has been done before, South African law requires a lift plan for non-routine and critical lifts.
The truth: Every non-routine lift requires its own lift plan. Previous experience with similar lifts is valuable input to the planning process, but it does not replace the requirement for a project-specific lift plan.
Myth 4: Rigging Is Only About the Crane Lift
The crane lift is often the most visible part of a rigging project, but it is rarely the most complex. Significant planning, risk, and skill are involved in the phases before and after the crane lift — machine disconnection and preparation, rigging configuration and load verification, transport and securing, final precision positioning at the destination, and recommissioning. A rigging project that is well-planned and executed across all of these phases is far more likely to deliver a good outcome than one where all attention is focused on the lift itself and other phases are treated as afterthoughts.
Reef Rigging approaches every project with attention to all phases — from initial survey to final commissioning. Contact the team to discuss your project requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions: Rigging Myths
Is rigging dangerous?
Rigging involves real hazards — heavy loads, mechanical equipment, and work at height are all present in typical operations. However, when rigging is properly planned, equipment is certified and maintained, operators are qualified, and safety procedures are followed, the risks are well-managed and incidents are rare. The danger in rigging comes not from the nature of the work itself but from inadequate planning, the use of defective or uncertified equipment, and the failure to follow established safety procedures. Professional rigging companies operate every day without incidents by managing these risks systematically.
Can I move heavy machinery myself without a professional rigging company?
Attempting to move heavy industrial machinery without a professional rigging company carries serious risks — to personnel, to the machinery itself, and to your legal liability under South African health and safety law. The OHSA and its regulations require that lifting operations are carried out by competent persons using certified equipment. DIY machinery moves using forklifts, makeshift rigging, or improper equipment are a leading cause of machinery damage and workplace injuries in South African factories. For any machine that cannot be safely moved by hand, a professional rigging company should always be engaged.