Are You An OSHA Compliant Rigger?

Anyone who is working in the construction industry as a rigger (or signal person) is now required to meet minimum training standards. There are two standards that can be met, a qualified rigger and a certified rigger. At some stage in the future you can expect industry to lean heavily towards those that are certified rather than those that are just qualified.

If you are currently working in the industry, you can attend a short course that will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and documentation required to prove your abilities as a rigger. Training is both practical and theoretical and includes testing for the issue of either a Qualification Compliance Card or an NCCCO Rigging Level One Certification.

For employers, ATS will qualify or certify your riggers (or signal persons) to meet the new OSHA crane mandate. This will improve the skills, knowledge, and safety consciousness of those personnel and ensure your employees meet the requirements. Ultimately, as an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that all riggers meet the new standards. Failing to do so can have severe consequences, more so if they are involved in an incident that involves injury or death.

By meeting these new standards you know that your workforce is competent in the skills required to work effectively in their roles. You can also feel more secure in the knowledge your employees are working to set safety standards.

If you have not brought your workforce up to date with the new qualification requirements, contact ATS – we can help to organize the training and the issuing of training verification documents. While safety is always of concern, a well-trained workforce is also highly productive, especially when taking into account the reduced amount of time lost through accidents – always a big cost to industry.