Dogging (DG)

It tests the knowledge behind safe load attachment and movement: WHS duties and standards, inspection and rating of slings, shackles and hooks, load weight and sling tension calculations, signal protocols, lift planning and risk assessment, and load control during the lift. Questions are multiple choice, but many describe a workplace scenario rather than a definition.

The number of questions and the time allowed depend on the training provider and the assessment instrument used. The official body publishes the current figure, so check its site or ask your registered training organisation for the assessment conditions before you book.

Passing requirements are set by the assessing organisation and the national competency framework, not by this page. The official body publishes the current figure. Ask your provider how theory and practical components are combined and whether any section must be passed outright.

Most candidates find the safety and equipment content manageable and the calculations the hardest part. Sling tension, load share across multiple legs and centre of gravity questions punish guessing. If you can work those confidently and recognise damaged gear, the rest is mostly careful reading.

Retake rules vary by provider, including waiting periods and whether a fee applies. The official body publishes the current policy. Ask before you enrol what happens if you miss one component, and whether a practical reassessment is required alongside the written paper.

Start with safety and legislation, because duties and standards underpin every later answer. Then study lifting equipment, followed by load estimation and calculations. Add communication and signalling, then lift planning and risk assessment. Finish with dogging operations, where the earlier domains combine into scenario questions.

Common failure modes are mixing up working load limits with breaking strength, ignoring sling angle when estimating tension, forgetting taglines and exclusion zones, and choosing a hitch that damages the load. Others misread signal questions or skip the planning step and jump straight to attaching the load.

Answer by domain, then read the explanation for every question, including the ones you got right by luck. Note which standard or table each answer relies on and revisit that source. Finish with a timed mock exam to practise pacing, then review errors again a few days later.

No. This is independent study material and is not affiliated with any regulator or training organisation. Certification comes from completing the required training and assessment with an approved provider and meeting the regulator's requirements in your jurisdiction.

Confirm photo identification, any prerequisite training, personal protective equipment requirements and whether the practical assessment happens on the same day. Ask about calculators, reference material and language support. Arrive early, and check the site's safety induction requirements if the assessment is held in a live workplace.