Recognizing Associated Hazards
The hazard mindset
Rigging hazards fall into categories: load hazards (overload, shifting, unstable center of gravity), environmental hazards (wind, power lines, poor visibility, ground conditions), personnel hazards (struck-by, pinch points, caught-between), and equipment hazards (shock loading, side loading, worn gear).
Key hazards to name
- Shock loading: sudden jerks multiply force far beyond static weight. Always take up slack slowly.
- Side loading: pulling a sling or hook sideways beyond its design reduces capacity dramatically.
- Power lines: maintain the required minimum clearance; treat all lines as energized.
- Ground conditions: soft soil, slopes, and voids can cause outrigger settlement and tip-over.
- Pinch and crush points: hands and feet near shackles, hooks, and load edges.
- Wind: affects load swing and can exceed crane or rigging limits.
Traps in questions
Watch for distractor answers that blame the operator when the real hazard is equipment or environment. Also note the difference between hazard (a condition) and risk (the chance of harm). Questions may ask which control is most effective - engineering controls (barricades, exclusion zones) beat administrative controls (signage) and PPE.
Rule of thumb
Use the hierarchy of controls: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, then PPE. Barricading a swing radius is stronger than posting a warning sign.
Worked example
A load swings toward a worker because wind gusts. The best control is to establish an exclusion zone and use tag lines from outside the swing path - not to tell the worker to duck.