Rigging & Material Handling
Rigger Level I — Knowledge and Practical Preparation
Develop basic rigging knowledge through inspection, controlled calculations, hitches, connections, load control and preparation for observed practical evaluation.
Who this is for
Intended audience
Workers preparing for defined rigging or signaling responsibilities, supervised practice and qualified evaluation.
Relevant industries: Construction, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Maritime
Learning outcomes
What learners will work toward
- Explain and apply level i scope and the learning pathway within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply rules, responsibilities and controlled data within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply units, geometry and repeatable arithmetic within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply verified weight, suspended total and center of gravity within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply sling families and product identification within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply sling inspection, removal and quarantine within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply hardware, seating and load direction within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply hardware inspection and controlled terminations within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply hitches, ratings and stability within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply sling angles, leg tension and model limits within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply lift points, below-hook devices and engineering boundaries within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply edge protection and load integrity within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply control ropes and knot boundaries within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply tag lines, worker positions and landing within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply crane interface, pre-tension and abnormal motion within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply pre-use plan, jsa and change control within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply sector overlays and task-specific scope within the course's preparation scope.
- Explain and apply integrated lab and practical readiness within the course's preparation scope.
Course outline
18 modules
Level I scope and the learning pathway
Basic rigging competence combines load information, suitable equipment, inspection, correct connections and controlled handling.
Rules, responsibilities and controlled data
Federal construction rigging requirements include 1926.251; general-industry sling requirements include 1910.184, while maritime operations have their own provisions.
Units, geometry and repeatable arithmetic
A calculation is only as reliable as its units and assumptions.
Verified weight, suspended total and center of gravity
Separate the load's controlled weight from the suspended total on the stated equipment-capacity basis.
Sling families and product identification
Alloy chain, wire rope, synthetic web, roundslings, fiber rope and metal mesh have different constructions and limitations.
Sling inspection, removal and quarantine
Inspect the full sling and attachments against the applicable criteria, not only the most visible section.
Hardware, seating and load direction
Shackles, hooks, master links, rings, swivels, turnbuckles, eyebolts, hoist rings, blocks and terminations transfer force in particular ways.
Hardware inspection and controlled terminations
Inspect hardware bodies, pins, threads, latches, retainers, bearing surfaces and alignment.
Hitches, ratings and stability
A vertical hitch supports through one vertical connection; a choker constricts around the load; a basket supports with sling portions on both sides.
Sling angles, leg tension and model limits
For an ideal static two-leg symmetric arrangement with centered load, tension per leg is T = W divided by (2 × sin θ), where θ is each leg's angle from horizontal.
Lift points, below-hook devices and engineering boundaries
Approved lifting points must be suitable for the load, direction and configuration.
Edge protection and load integrity
Edges and contact surfaces can cut, abrade, crush or otherwise damage slings.
Control ropes and knot boundaries
Control ropes can help manage a load's orientation when the plan permits, but they are not a substitute for rated slings or lifting hardware.
Tag lines, worker positions and landing
Load control starts with people and space, not with pulling harder.
Crane interface, pre-tension and abnormal motion
The rigger and signal person have related but distinct duties.
Pre-use plan, JSA and change control
A useful basic rigging plan names the load and configuration, controlled weight and balance, approved lifting points, gear identities and capacities, inspection status, connection and protection details, route, landing, people, communication and stop criteria.
Sector overlays and task-specific scope
Construction, general industry, shipyard and marine-terminal work do not share one interchangeable checklist.
Integrated lab and practical readiness
The final preparation stage connects the whole task: verify the load, inspect and select gear, calculate stated forces, build the approved load path, protect contacts, plan people and communication, check pre-tension, control movement and landing, and respond to abnormal conditions.
Assessment and completion
Requirements stay explicit.
Assessment plan: 80-question protected draft review form; 80% and all presented critical items correct. Two initial attempts with controlled remediation/reset. 300 draft bank items; no official external exam or credential.
Questions
Frequently asked
Is this an official OSHA or third-party certification?
No. IM Academi will identify the course provider and the exact completion outcome. It will not imply OSHA authorization, regulatory qualification, or another organization's certification unless the applicable authorization has been obtained and documented.
Does my employer still need to provide site-specific training?
Often, yes. Site hazards, procedures, equipment, emergency plans, supervision, and role authorization remain employer responsibilities. This page states course-specific boundaries but cannot replace an employer's hazard assessment.
What happens if a practical component is required?
The knowledge portion and practical evaluation are tracked separately. Final completion depends on the published course rules and a documented evaluation by an approved evaluator.
Need this course for a team?
Discuss assignments, delivery, practical coordination, and reporting needs.