Safe Work Practices > Hoisting / Rigging

Date Reviewed: February 15, 2023

Hoisting can be one of the most hazardous processes, whether hoisting a chemical barrel into the back of a pickup or pipe into an excavation. Most incidents occur because equipment used is not designed for the load to be lifted, equipment is damaged or is used improperly. The following factors should be considered when making any mechanical lift.

•Only qualified, trained and where applicable, certified persons will operate a mechanical lifting device or rig a load.

•Any hoist over a capacity of 2000 Kg. must have all inspections, operations and maintenance recorded in a log book.

•All lifting equipment will be inspected before each use to ensure there is no obvious physical damage.

•Ensure that only equipment designed and rated for a lift is used.

•Slings and lifting lines will not be used if cut or frayed where the damage exceeds 10% of the total thickness. Wire rope is not to be used if it has been kinked.

•Hooks should not be spread more than 15% or twisted more than 10o and they should be equipped with safety latches.

•U-bolt clamps used to join wire rope shall have the saddle on the live end of the load line - the bolt shall be on the free end because the U-bolt will crimp the line and may cause the rope to fail.

•Protect lifting lines and slings from sharp edges.

•Wear gloves when handling wire rope.

•The manufacturer’s recommended safe working load must never be exceeded. Where this information is not available, the maximum rated load shall not be more than:

•One fifth of the ultimate breaking strength of the weakest component of the rigging, or

•One tenth of the ultimate breaking strength of the rigging when the rigging is being used to support personnel.

•When shackles are used, pins shall be secured to prevent accidental withdrawal.

•Dead end of wire rope after a connection shall be looped back on itself and secured with a single cable clip.

•The minimum diameter of sheaves is 16 times the diameter of the cable.

•Any load that cannot be safely held while being lifted will have a tag line attached and guided by another worker.

•Workers are not to be under a suspended load in any circumstance.

•Hands are not to be used to guide cable back onto a spool.

•At least five full turns of wire rope shall remain on the drum at any time.

•Never ride on a suspended load.

•Side booms shall not be driven with the hook dangling in a position which is hazardous to other workers or with the boom more than 30o from the vertical position.

•One person, competent in the use of hand signals, shall be designated the signaler. The signaler should be identified by wearing a traffic vest.

•See Electrical Hazards section for safe clearances from power lines.

•If a man basket is used, it will be stamped with OH&S approval number, be secured with an additional sling attached above the headache ball, and all persons will be tied in with harness and lanyard.