NCCCO Rigger Level I study plan
NCCCO Rigger Level I · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Inspect rigging before use & Recognize associated hazards
List every rigging component in a sling inventory (sling legs, shackles, hooks, master links, swivels, turnbuckles, wire rope clips) and state the specific defect each is inspected for
Describe the removal-from-service criteria for synthetic web slings, wire rope slings, and chain slings from memory without notes
Perform a documented pre-use inspection sequence on five different sling types and record pass/fail with the reason for each fail
Identify the tag and identification markings a sling must carry and explain why a missing tag means removal from service
Your checkpoint
A one-page inspection checklist covering five sling types with at least eight removal-from-service criteria per type, validated against a hands-on inspection of five slings
Inspect rigging before use & Recognize associated hazards
Inspect shackles, hooks, master links, and eye bolts and state the wear, deformation, and crack limits that trigger rejection
Explain hook latch, throat opening, and twist criteria and demonstrate measuring them
Match each hardware defect to the hazard it creates if the item is left in service
Sequence a job-site rigging inspection from arrival through pre-lift, noting what changes at each stage
Your checkpoint
A written inspection log for ten pieces of hardware with measured values, accept/reject decisions, and the hazard cited for each rejection
Identify, select, and attach rigging with basic knowledge of hitch configurations, capacities, and basic knots & Use various types of rigging equipment and basic hitches and their applications
Name and demonstrate the vertical, choker, basket, and bridle hitches and state how each changes the load on the sling
Calculate sling tension for a two-leg bridle at a given included angle using the load-angle relationship
Explain the effect of horizontal sling angle on leg tension and compute tension at 60, 45, and 30 degrees
Identify the loss of capacity caused by choker and basket configurations and state the applicable efficiency factor
Your checkpoint
A tension-calculation worksheet with at least eight solved bridle and basket problems showing load, angle, and resulting leg tension
Identify, select, and attach rigging with basic knowledge of hitch configurations, capacities, and basic knots & Use various types of rigging equipment and basic hitches and their applications
Tie and dress a bowline, clove hitch, and two half hitches and explain where each is and is not acceptable in rigging
Select the correct hitch for four described load shapes and justify each choice
Explain center-of-gravity location and demonstrate how an off-center pick changes sling loading
Describe how to control load rotation and tag lines during a lift
Your checkpoint
A hitch-selection table matching at least six load scenarios to a hitch, with the capacity effect and rationale for each
Recognize associated hazards
Identify the hazards created by sling angles, edge contact, and load shifting and state the control for each
Explain the electrical, pinch-point, and struck-by hazards around a lift and where exclusion zones belong
Describe environmental and ground-condition hazards that affect rigging and crane stability
List the rigging-related causes of dropped loads and rank them by frequency of occurrence in general practice
Your checkpoint
A hazard-and-control register with at least fifteen entries, each pairing a specific hazard with a specific control measure
Recognize associated hazards & Inspect rigging before use
Walk through a described lift scenario and identify every hazard before rigging begins
Explain how load weight, rigging weight, and capacity derating combine to determine whether a lift is safe
Describe the roles and communication signals among rigger, signal person, and operator
Identify the conditions that require stopping a lift and state how to communicate a stop
Your checkpoint
A written pre-lift hazard analysis for two described scenarios, each with at least eight identified hazards and controls
Identify, select, and attach rigging with basic knowledge of hitch configurations, capacities, and basic knots & Use various types of rigging equipment and basic hitches and their applications
Assemble a complete rigging system for a described load, including sling type, hitch, hardware, and capacity verification
Verify that every component in the system meets or exceeds the required load
Explain how to level a load and how to protect slings from edges and corners
Describe the inspection points that must be re-checked after rigging is attached and tensioned
Your checkpoint
A complete rigging plan for one described load, including component list, hitch selection, capacity calculations, and edge protection
Inspect rigging before use & Identify, select, and attach rigging with basic knowledge of hitch configurations, capacities, and basic knots & Recognize associated hazards & Use various types of rigging equipment and basic hitches and their applications
Review all four domains using the weakest areas identified in prior deliverables
Complete a full timed practice set and score each domain separately
Re-derive the sling-tension and capacity formulas without reference
State the removal-from-service criteria for all sling and hardware types in a single pass
Your checkpoint
A timed practice set scored by domain with a written list of remaining weak areas and a remediation plan for each
Milestones
Week 2: Can inspect and accept or reject slings and hardware using documented criteria without reference notes
Week 4: Can calculate bridle and basket sling tension at three angles and select an appropriate hitch for a described load
Week 6: Can complete a pre-lift hazard analysis identifying at least eight hazards with controls for an unseen scenario
Week 8: Scores at or above 80 percent on a timed practice set in each of the four domains