Basic Rigging (RB) study guide
Basic Rigging (RB) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Basic Rigging (RB) credential is an entry-level certification for workers who attach loads to cranes, hoists, and other lifting equipment under supervision. It is typically pursued by construction laborers, millwrights, ironworkers, warehouse staff, and helpers moving into rigging roles, and it signals that a candidate understands safe hardware selection, hitch types, load control, and communication with operators. The Basic Rigging (RB) study guide has 5 sections and about 1,648 words.
01Rigging Safety and Standards
Rigging safety rests on a simple hierarchy: the employer's lift plan, the manufacturer's ratings, and the consensus standards that tie them together. A candidate should recognize that every sling, shackle, and hook carries a rated capacity that applies only under the conditions the maker specifies - vertical lift, specific hitch type, specific sling angle.
319 words, about 2 min02Rigging Hardware and Slings
Shackles, hooks, links, swivels, turnbuckles, and eyebolts all have rated capacities and specific loading directions. A screw-pin shackle must be fully seated with the pin tight; a bolt-type shackle needs the nut fully engaged and the cotter pin installed.
346 words, about 2 min03Knots, Hitches, and Sling Configurations
Vertical, choker, and basket hitches are the core configurations. A vertical hitch uses full capacity; a choker typically derates to about 80% of vertical; a basket hitch can double capacity only when the legs are truly vertical and the load is not pinched.
331 words, about 2 min04Load Weight Estimation and Center of Gravity
Every lift begins with a known weight. Use shipping papers, nameplates, or manufacturer data first; estimate only when data is unavailable, and mark the estimate clearly.
350 words, about 2 min05Lifting and Moving Loads / Hand Signals
Before any pick, confirm the load weight, rigging capacity, path of travel, landing zone, and communication method. Barricade the area under the load; no one stands or passes beneath a suspended load.
302 words, about 2 min