Rigging is not something many think about. If they do, the tendency is to imagine it in a romantic context – pirate ships setting sale. Yet, in the industrial context, rigging is far from romantic. It is not climbing and dangling over the sea, but the act of pulling up, lifting and moving cargo of various types. While some shipping companies and manufacturers handle this type of work in-house, more hire it out to an industrial rigging service.
Types of Rigging
Rigging is not a static process. It is an active process involving sliding, raising, shifting, moving, and rolling materials/cargo from one place to another. The equipment such actions involve vary for specific projects. In order to meet the demands of such applications, riggers may utilize any of the following:
- Hooks Cargo straps
- Ratchet straps
- Turnbuckles
- Load binders
- Slings
- Lifting magnets
- Shackles
- Master links
- Winches
- Snatch blocks
- Thimbles
- Wire rope
All these types of rigging must be in excellent condition. Failure to maintain them to the highest standards can result in the very least, damaged cargo and, at its worst, a tragic accident. To prevent such incidents occurring, a shipping or manufacturing company hires an industrial rigging service. It is its responsibility to address the issues arising from installation onwards.
Industrial Rigging Service
Safety and effectiveness are two hallmarks of a good industrial rigging service. No matter what the type of rigging or the application for which it is intended, it is there to ensure the tasks are handled correctly and safely. Neither should the weight or the specific cargo affect an experienced company’s ability to perform this task. The potential for damaging and deadly results if the rigger does not perform his or her tasks correctly is more than reason enough to only work with professionals when rigging services are required.
