What Does
Rigging Equipment Mean?
Rigging equipment refers to any device or component used to lift, hoist, pull, or push large objects. These devices keep heavy loads secure and distribute their weight, allowing them to be transported safely.
Safeopedia Explains Rigging Equipment
industries like manufacturing, construction, and maritime shipping all require the ability to move massive equipment and heavy materials. To ensure that this is done safely, the loads must be rigged properly. Improper rigging can lead to severe injury or fatalities, significant property damage, as well as damage to the load itself.
Common Types of Rigging Hardware
- Blocks and pulleys, including snatch blocks, square blocks, swivel blocks, single pulleys, and double pulleys. These reduce the force required to lift a heavy load, allowing more weight to be carried.
- Eyebolts are used for various rigging applications and act as anchor points for looping cables. These include shoulder eyebolts used for angular connections, straight eyebolts used in straight-line applications, screw eyebolts, U-bolts, and lag-eye screw eyebolts.
- Steel nuts can be used in conjunction with eyebolts. They include wing nuts, dome nuts, hex nuts, and ball ends. The precise type of nut needed will depend on the thread, while the size of the nut will be based on the total weight of the load.
- Rigging hooks are made of forged alloy steel and help lift heavy loads without slipping. They include sorting hooks, choker hooks, clevis grab hooks, and eyehooks. The choice of rigging hook will depend on the angle of lift, weight of the load, connection points, and the type of shackles used.
- Wire ropes are durable and highly resilient cables that are used along with other accessories such as clips, sleeves, thimbles, stops, and slings. The strength and use of steel wire rope varies by the diameter of the rope, material of the wire core, and type of wire finish, among other factors.
- Spreader bars and lifting beams are used to connect the load to the crane. Lifting beams carry the weight from a single point while spreader bars disperse the load over a larger area.
Safe Rigging Practice
Improper rigging can result in loads slipping off the edge, injuries from falling materials, unstable cranes, and other potentially deadly or devastating outcomes.
Rules to ensure safe rigging include:
- Only allowing qualified workers who are certified in rigging safety to secure loads
- The crane and rigging equipment should be thoroughly inspected by a qualified person before moving or lifting any heavy materials
- Ensure that every load is properly balanced
- Have qualified spotters on site who are trained in using the relevant hand and voice signals
- Store rigging equipment safely and inspect it after each use