CSCS Slinger/Signaller study plan
CSCS Slinger/Signaller · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Legal and regulatory requirements, roles and responsibilities & Health, safety and welfare in lifting operations
List the key legal duties placed on employers, appointed persons and slinger/signallers under UK lifting legislation
Define the roles and responsibilities of the appointed person, crane supervisor, slinger and signaller and state who may authorise a lift
Identify the main causes of lifting incidents and match each to the control that prevents it
Explain the purpose of a risk assessment, method statement and permit-to-work in a lifting operation
Your checkpoint
A one-page role-and-duty summary table covering all four lifting roles, plus a 10-item incident-cause-to-control matching sheet scored at 8/10 or better
Health, safety and welfare in lifting operations & Legal and regulatory requirements, roles and responsibilities
Describe how to establish and maintain exclusion zones and safe standing positions during a lift
Outline welfare and site-housekeeping requirements that affect lifting safety
Explain reporting duties for accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences
State the legal position on competence, training and authorised personnel for lifting operations
Your checkpoint
A written exclusion-zone and safe-positioning procedure of 300-400 words that a supervisor could sign off
Lifting accessories, slings and lifting equipment
Identify common lifting accessories by name, type and typical use
Explain how to inspect slings, shackles and lifting equipment before use and state rejection criteria
Interpret safe working load, colour coding and marking on lifting accessories
Describe correct storage, care and periodic thorough examination requirements for lifting equipment
Your checkpoint
A completed pre-use inspection checklist for at least six accessory types, with pass/fail criteria for each
Lifting accessories, slings and lifting equipment & Slinging techniques and load control
Calculate the effect of sling angle on tension in a two-leg sling and state the practical angle limits
Determine load weight from markings or by calculation and check it against equipment capacity
Select the correct accessory and configuration for given load and site conditions
Explain how centre of gravity affects load stability and sling loading
Your checkpoint
A worked calculation set of 10 sling-angle and load-weight problems with all answers correct and method shown
Slinging techniques and load control
Demonstrate in writing the correct slinging methods for common load types including bundles, pipes and palletised goods
Describe how to control load rotation, swing and snagging during the lift
Explain tag-line use, load orientation and landing/positioning technique
Identify unsafe slinging practices and state the corrective action for each
Your checkpoint
A slinging-method card for four different load types, each with a diagram-in-words description and a list of do/don't points
Signalling and communication & Slinging techniques and load control
Give the standard hand signals for raise, lower, stop, emergency stop and travel, and state who receives signals
Explain the duties of the signaller and how to maintain a clear line of sight and communication with the operator
Describe radio and alternative communication protocols, including failure and lost-contact procedures
Explain how to take over signalling duties safely mid-lift
Your checkpoint
A self-recorded or written signal log covering all standard signals, self-assessed against a checklist with no more than one error
Lifting operation planning and site coordination & Health, safety and welfare in lifting operations
Outline the contents of a lifting plan and the information a slinger must obtain before starting
Describe site coordination issues including other trades, ground conditions, overhead hazards and weather limits
Explain how to conduct a pre-lift briefing and confirm the lift team's understanding
State the conditions under which a lift must be stopped and who has authority to stop it
Your checkpoint
A full lifting plan for a realistic scenario, covering hazards, controls, roles, communication and stop criteria
Legal and regulatory requirements, roles and responsibilities & Health, safety and welfare in lifting operations & Lifting accessories, slings and lifting equipment & Slinging techniques and load control & Signalling and communication & Lifting operation planning and site coordination
Review and consolidate weak areas identified in earlier weeks
Complete a timed full-length mock exam under test conditions
Analyse mock-exam errors by domain and correct each misunderstanding
Rehearse all standard hand signals and key definitions until recalled without notes
Your checkpoint
A timed mock exam score of 85% or above, plus a one-page error review listing each missed question and the corrected fact
Milestones
Week 2: Recall all four lifting roles and their duties without notes, and list at least eight legal duties correctly
Week 4: Score 80% or better on a 20-question accessories and sling-angle calculation self-test
Week 6: Demonstrate all standard hand signals unaided and explain lost-contact procedures
Week 8: Achieve 85% or above on a full timed mock exam with every error reviewed and corrected