About nothing else is as important as having a solid rigging plan when it comes to construction projects. A faulty lifting process on the job site can lead to disastrous results where the lives of numerous people are at risk, in addition to losing financial resources and time.

The rigging plan needed for a project will depend on the lifting category. The three main lift types are ordinary, critical, and pre-engineered.

Ordinary lifts don’t require extreme precautions since they are common on work sites and safety protocols are easily applicable. As the name indicates, critical lifts need more detailed planning due to the operation of various cranes to lift some of the heaviest loads. Pre-engineered lift plans are customized to meet the specific needs of the objects or loads to be lifted.

A rigging plan will help take advantage of time, money and maximize results. Nevertheless, the main goal should be the safety of all personnel by providing the correct and critical information before the start of any project.

What steps should be taken into account to ensure a successful rigging plan?

In preparation for lifting, cranes must be properly and perfectly set up by applicating the best rigging plan possible. To achieve this, these 6 crucial steps should be considered:

1. Inspecting the site: visiting the site beforehand will help identify the deficiencies it might have concerning space, hazards, and ground or weather conditions.

• Hiring qualified crane operators: a crane operator must be skilled in the type of crane to be utilized. An exhaustive evaluation before the start of the project is essential.

• Assessing the load: the load directly impacts the proper function of a crane. The size, shape, and weight of the load need to be within the crane’s capacity for safe lifting.

• Choosing the appropriate crane: selecting the right crane will improve the chances to complete any project. However, this can only happen when the rules detailed in the operating manual are strictly followed.

• Verifying the correct functioning of the equipment: this includes checking for breaks, corrosion, and cuts that might prevent the equipment to work correctly.

• Communicating with the personnel: as stated before, the safety of the workers comes first, so if the loads are going to be lifted over them the right thing to do is communicate with them effectively to avoid hazards on-site.

Risks and hazards are ever present on the work site but applying these steps when drawing up a rigging plan can significantly lessen unwanted incidents that might affect the workers and the completion of the project.

Are you in the process of creating a rigging plan? Contact us. We can guide you, so you can obtain the best results.