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Key Role
Have you ever visited Pemberton in the South West of Western Australia? If so, you may have gone on one of the famous tree walks where high above the ground, on a suspended wire bridge, you can stroll through the treetops. Riggers played a crucial role in the construction of this high profile project.
A rigger's major role is to assemble, install and position various types of machinery and equipment used to lift and shift building materials used in the construction of a range of buildings and other structures. The equipment that they work with includes cranes, cables, pulleys, winches and ropes. They work closely with crane drivers and doggers.
Beware The Dangers Of Rigging
There are a number of work hazards associated with rigging, not least of which is working at great heights above the ground. If you're interested in rigging, you must learn to identify these hazards and be trained in safety procedures to deal with them. Riggers start out working as doggers to gain the practical, on-site experience needed in basic rigging procedures and to get a good understanding of the safety practices used in this industry.
Using apparatus such as rope, wire, chain or webbing, doggers attach loads to cranes. If a load is too heavy, unbalanced or the incorrect lifting tools are used, rigging equipment can become unstable. A dogger will estimate the weight and centre of mass of a load, to ensure that it is correctly positioned. They then direct the placement and movement of the load using hand signals or radio.
Rigging Types
There are three levels of rigging: basic, intermediate and advanced. You must pass certificates of competency to progress through each level, ensuring that you have attained the appropriate technical and safety skills.
As a basic rigger, you will mainly be erecting steel columns and roofing for simple buildings such as factories, while performing many of the tasks of a dogger. You'll also need to calculate the tension exerted on a knot or winch carrying a load.
Intermediate riggers work in concrete construction and on more complex construction sites. For example, they may work with tilt-up concrete for the construction of housing and other buildings. They will also gain the expertise to erect and dismantle lattice boom and tower cranes.
As an advanced rigger, you can get to work on even more complicated and interesting projects, like the treetop walk. Constructing flying foxes/cable ways and other devices that involve the suspension of an object are undertaken at this level of rigging.
Playing It Safe
On average, a rigger works at heights between 50 to 100 and up to 300 metres. In conditions like this, you need to check safety equipment and evaluate your surroundings. Recently, greater focus has been placed on safety awareness, the enforcement of safety regulations and the provision of training to ensure the safety of workers in this occupation.
Rigging requires you to be physically fit and to enjoy working outdoors. Good communication skills are needed when dealing with fellow workers and to ensure that instructions are clearly understood. Basic numeracy and literacy skills are also required to read safety signs and undertake mathematical calculations.
Aside from the building and construction industry, riggers also work in the mining industry. If you choose to work in mining then you're likely to be working on a mine site or on an oil rig. A rigger's work environment tends not to be the most pristine, so expect to get your hands dirty!
Labour market demand for riggers is currently high and is expected to continue this way over the next five years. This is due to skills shortages and continued growth in the construction industry. The rise and fall of gold prices, and level of activity in the mining and oil and gas industries, also affect the demand for riggers.
Wages vary with age and experience, and the number of hours worked (which can be anywhere from 45 to 70 hours per week). Earnings range from $30,000 per annum, up to $80,000, depending on where you work and in which industry sector. Riggers in the mining industry tend to earn more.
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