Rigging Spotlight
By Seth Skydel
Crane operations succeed when planning and rigging best practices are the backbone of safe lifts and successful projects. Effective rigging plans reduce risk, improve efficiency and safeguard equipment and crews.
This article provides a comprehensive guide for crane operators and rigging teams, based on practical techniques and standards from leading lifting and rigging organizations.
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Start with a Detailed Pre-Lift Assessment
Associated Wire Rope & Rigging notes that a thorough pre-lift assessment prevents miscalculations that often cause shifting loads or side loading of slings and hooks. Before putting a sling on a load, the team must understand the entire lift scenario by:
• Determining weight, center of gravity and dimensions.
• Identifying pick points and restrictions( e. g., awkward shapes, protrusions).
• Confirming if the load is balanced or requires load adjustments.
2
Choose the Right Gear and Hardware
Kito Crosby emphasizes that hardware ratings and compatibility must align with both the load and the crane’ s capacity. Selecting the correct rigging hardware involves:
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Best Practices
Every lift begins long before the hook ever leaves the ground
• Choosing slings( wire rope, chain, synthetic) rated above working load limits.
• Ensuring components like shackles, hooks and blocks are certified and inspected.
• Considering abrasion resistance, temperature limits and environmental conditions.
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Know the Working Load Limit
Modulift reminds operators
March 2026 • www. cranehotline. com