Product Overview

This Rigging Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for all stages of rigging work to support WHS compliance on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of rigging operations, from basic dogging activities through to complex lifting, tensioning, and offshore tasks.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Assembly of rigging systems, including selection and inspection of cords, chains, ropes, slings, shackles, and associated hardware
• Safe attaching and securing of cords, chains, and ropes to loads, lifting points, and structures to prevent slippage or dropped objects
• Planning and conducting rigging and dogging operations, including load assessment, communication methods, and exclusion zone management
• Hoisting and positioning large-scale awnings, facades, and similar structures using cranes and rigging equipment
• Installation of heavy components using rigging techniques, including alignment, temporary supports, and controlled lowering
• Loading, inspecting, and using rigging gear such as slings, shackles, spreader bars, and lifting beams within rated capacities
• Offshore rigging work, including managing dynamic loads, vessel movement, and environmental conditions
• Rigging and de-rigging operations, including dismantling lifting setups and safe storage of equipment
• Intermediate and advanced rigging procedures, including complex lifts, multi-crane lifts, and use of load equalising gear
• Basic rigging work, including use of fibre and wire rope, knots, hitches, and standard lifting configurations
• Rigging work involving granite and other heavy stone components, including edge protection and handling fragile or brittle loads
• Safe use of high-load tension lines, including energy release hazards and exclusion zones for stored-energy systems
• Selection, inspection, and safe usage of synthetic slings, including protection against cuts, abrasion, and UV damage
• Tensioning of cable guides, guy wires, and support cables to specified loads while controlling snap-back and recoil risks
• Pre-start inspections, tagging, and ongoing maintenance of rigging equipment to ensure ongoing integrity and compliance with rated capacities

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for riggers, doggers, crane crews, offshore construction teams, structural steel and façade installers, and site supervisors responsible for managing lifting and rigging operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work – Guidance on managing risks associated with construction activities, including lifting and rigging tasks
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – Requirements relevant to working at height during rigging and lifting operations
• Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks – Controls for manual handling during handling and positioning of rigging gear and loads
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace – Safe use of cranes, hoists, winches, and associated lifting equipment
• AS 2550 series – Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use – Operational requirements for cranes and lifting operations used with rigging
• AS 1418 series – Cranes, hoists and winches – Design and performance requirements for lifting plant used in rigging work
• AS 4497 – Roundslings – Synthetic fibre – Requirements for selection, inspection, and use of synthetic round slings
• AS 1353 – Flat synthetic-webbing slings – Specifications and safe use guidance for synthetic webbing slings in rigging
• AS 3775 – Chain slings for lifting purposes – Requirements for lifting chain slings used in rigging operations
• AS 2741 – Shackles – Standards for shackles used as connecting hardware in rigging systems
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017