Construction Safety
Basic Training in Civil Rigging Needed BY MARK JH KLASSEN
INTRODUCTION No one wants to be the family member who gets that call at the end of the day saying, “I’m sorry, but there was an accident on the job today, and your loved one was injured.” It happens far too often. Whether on construction sites or civil jobs where workers are engaged in load lifting, there is a need for basic training in civil rigging. “There are way too many workers out there who are inadequately trained to complete the tasks they are assigned, so they’re taking unnecessary risks with their lives every day,” says Ralf Notheis, manager of Bigfoot Crane’s training academy, who wants to make good training in civil rigging more available to more people. Notheis’ concern for safety is shared by many others, from company owner and managers to safety officers and countless workers.
lifting device. It also refers to the equipment used to do that, such as slings, hooks and shackles. The rigger, then, is the person who is trained to calculate weight, centre of gravity, and sling configuration so that they can ensure that materials are effectively and safely moved. “When the job is done right,” says Nothei, “everyone is safer, whether it’s the workers themselves or the public around them.” Even if workers are told that they have the right to refuse unsafe work, many don’t know what exactly is unsafe about the work they are doing. So they continue to put themselves and others at risk. They are simply unaware of the hazards. The right training empowers workers with knowledge so that they can be confident on the job. With adequate training, they can perform their work with the kind of self-assurance and professionalism that is required in a high-risk environment.
THE SAFETY OF WORKERS “It starts with the workers themselves,” explains Notheis. “Everyone who does any kind of mechanized lifting, using equipment like excavators or backhoes to move loads into place.” Rigging, of course, refers to the process of securing a load so that it can be elevated and moved by some
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGERS Effective civil rigging training not only prevents accidents and ensures safety for workers, but it also alleviates the legal and corporate pressures of carelessness on the part of managers and owners. “Accidents cost lives—that’s the biggest thing we
12
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS
November/December 2021
want to avoid,” says Notheis. “But the mistakes that untrained workers make also cost companies and cities huge amounts of money in lost time and wasted revenue.” Whether it’s safety risks, damage risks, legal liabilities, or loss of work, the cost of accidents is enormous. If a mishap takes away a worker’s life or livelihood, the cost skyrockets. Even if a worker quits their job, conservative estimates state that the loss will cost the company upwards of $33,000. As well, Notheis emphasizes that untrained and unqualified managers can be a major liability to construction companies and city work crews. “This training is for supervisors and foremen as well as workers,” he said. “Everyone needs to be aware of the risks involved in the work. They all need to understand the value of training.”
CONCLUSION According to Notheis, the need for basic training in civil rigging is obvious in the industry. Courses need to be made available for more cities and companies across the province and across the country. “For everyone involved, there’s huge value for better training,” says Notheis. “Everyone sleeps better at night when they know the job has been done right.”
