The InternationalRigging & Lifting

Handbook

The contents of this book

emphasise good practice

and give guidance on the

safe use of all types

of lifting equipment.

This handbook should be

used to enhance

safety awareness.ISBN : 1-904021-05-0

Written, designed and published by North Sea Lifting Ltd.Tel: +44(0)1224 208988 Fax: +44(0)1224 208044

www.nsl-aberdeen.com Email: info@nsl-aberdeen.com

Rig

ging

& Lifting

2008 Edition

The InternationalRigging & Lifting

Handbook

The International Rigging & Lifting Handbook l 7

Index

Introduction and Scope of Application

1.0 Glossary of Terms2.0 Regulations3.0 Definition and Principles of Lifting Equipment4.0 Examination of Lifting Equipment5.0 Selection of Lifting Equipment6.0 Safe Approach to Lifting 7.0 Handbook Issue, Control and Receipt Document

Safe Use of Equipment

8.0 Cranes (Including man-riding) 16.0 Hydraulic Jacks / Rams9.0 Chain Hoists / Pullifts 17.0 Wire Rope Slings10.0 Wire Rope Hoists 18.0 Man-made Fibre Slings11.0 Beam Clamps 19.0 Alloy Grade 80 Chain Slings12.0 Beam Trolleys 20.0 Shackles13.0 Plate Clamps 21.0 Eye Bolts14.0 Snatch Blocks / Sheave Blocks 22.0 Turnbuckles15.0 Winches 23.0 Fall Arrest Devices

Safety Advice

24.0 Slinging Guidelines25.0 Loading / Unloading of Containers (Forklift Trucks)26.0 Manual Handling and Kinetic Lifting27.0 Guidance on Personnel Transfers (Billy Pugh and Frog)28.0 Guidance for Lifting Over Live Facilities

Working Load Limit Tables

Table 1 Wire Rope Table 5 Alloy ShacklesTable 2 Wire Rope Slings Table 6 Eye BoltsTable 3 Man-made Fibre Slings Table 7 Hoist RingsTable 4 Alloy Chain Slings Table 8 Turnbuckles

Appendices

Appendix 1 Lifting Gear / Legislation MatrixAppendix 2 Density of MaterialsAppendix 3 Recommended Hand Signals for Crane OperationsAppendix 4 Recommended Hand Signals for Manriding WinchesAppendix 5 Lift Categorisation ChecklistAppendix 6 General Pre-lifting Checklist

Quick Reference Index at Back of Handbook

18 l © NSL 1991

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W a R n I n g ! W a R n I n g ! W a R n I n g ! W a R n I n g !

6.0 SaFE aPPROaCH TO LIFTIng

The following section gives recommendations as to the correct procedures to adopt when effecting a lift.

Personnel Competence

6.1 Any person using lifting equipment must be trained to operate that equipment. The person must also have a working knowledge of its capabilities and the defects likely to arise in service. This knowledge will be of value when carrying out the pre-use examinations.

Never Exceed the Safe Working Load

6.2 In all lifting operations care should be taken to ensure that the load imposed on any item of equipment or on part of any item does not exceed its safe working load. When there is any uncertainty about the weight of the load or the load likely to be applied to a particular part of the equipment it is recommended that load sensing devices be used. In addition to the above, care should be taken to ensure that at all stages of lifting, the load remains in a stable condition. In general the load may be unstable if at any time (1) the centre of gravity of the load is not vertically beneath the crane hook, or (2) the centre of gravity of the load is higher than the point of attachment of the slings to the load. There are other causes of instability to be considered, eg liquid moving within a vessel, etc.

Correct Use

6.3 The equipment should be used only for the specific purpose for which it is designed and should not be adapted for any other purposes without the approval of a Competent Person.

Check The Lift

6.4 With ALL lifting operations the load should be lifted a nominal distance only in the first instance. This "trial lift" allows the operator to check his estimations of balance, stability, and general security of the load while it is in a relatively safe position. If any discrepancies are found the load should be lowered and the slinging revised. The sequence of trial lift and adjustment should be repeated until the operator is satisfied that the load is balanced, stable and secure.

Do not stand below loads, keep hands clear of rigging as slack is taken up, avoid climbing on containers and stacked materials and never stand between loads and walls / bulkheads, etc.

22 l © NSL 1991

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1 Responsible person identi� es that a lifting operation is to take place.

2 The com

petent person identi� es lift category and im

plements control m

easures as detailed below.

Non-R

outineLifts

RoutineLifts

Uncomplicated lifts that are perform

ed on a regular basis, which involve basic slinging practices,

eg: the handling of pipe, tubulars, containers, the loading / unloading of trucks, etc usually perform

ed by the deck crew, warehouse or yard personnel.

Lifts that involve the use of basic hoisting equipment,

eg: a crane or manual hoist (suspended from

dedicated lifting structures such as padeyes or runway beam

s) directly above the load. Lifts would also have to be outwith sensitive, dif� cult or restricted areas. Loads would also require to have certi� ed lifting points or be relatively easy to sling.

Lifts that are dif� cult due to the nature of the load,

eg: awkward shape, offset or high centre of gravity, fragile, containing liquids, no lifting attachm

ents/dif� cult to sling, etc. The loads m

ay also require to be rotated or cross-hauled involving two or m

ore sets of rigging and/or tandem lifting with cranes. Lifts of

an extended duration i.e. covering two or more work shifts.

These lifts could be any of the � rst three categories but with additional hazards,

eg: extremely heavy loads, con� ned spaces, restricted headroom

, lifting over unprotected plant or equipm

ent, lifting sub-sea, lifts involving divers, lifts involving � oating cranes, lifts where personnel are the load, ie lifting operations or conditions which would m

erit additional engineering input.

These lifts can be performed

by personnel who have passed assessm

ent on the Technician level - Rigging and Lifting course and/or been involved in such operations for 12 m

onths.

Their competence should

be veri� ed by quali� ed skills assessors. M

inimum

Q

ualifications

Planning: May have a written

plan or alternatively, a method

documented in a Rigging and

Lifting hand book.

Risk Assessment: A basic

risk assessment m

ust be undertaken but need not be recorded.

Supervision: By operator actually perform

ing the work.

Control

Measures

Complex Lifts

Complicated Lifts

Routine Lifts

Simple Lifts

These lifts can be performed

by personnel who have passed assessm

ent on a Banksman/

Slinger course and/or been involved in such operations for 6 m

onths.

Their competence should

be veri� ed by quali� ed skills assessors. M

inimum

Q

ualifications

Planning: The use of generic plans and toolbox talks is usually adequate for this level of lifting operation. Ensure there are no changes to the original plan.

Risk Assessment: If there

are changes to original plan, a further risk assessm

ent must

be undertaken.

Supervision: By appointed lift controller who also allocates duties to others.

Control

Measures

This type of lift must be

performed by Riggers quali� ed

to National Standards eg EMTA

level 2 / ECITB Level 3 (or equivalent) and/or have 5yrs experience.

Their competence should

be veri� ed by quali� ed skills assessors.

2 The com

petent person identi� es lift category and

Minim

um

Qualifications

Planning: Written plans

produced by ‘The Competent

Person’ combined with toolbox

talks are required for this level of lifting operation.

Risk Assessment: A

Risk Assessment m

ust be undertaken and controlling m

easures recorded.

Supervision: By ‘The Com

petent Person’ with engineering support as required. C

ontrol M

easures

This type of lift must be

performed by Riggers quali� ed

to National Standards eg EMTA

level 2 / ECITB Level 3 (or equivalent) and/or have 5yrs experience.

Their competence should

be veri� ed by quali� ed skills assessors. In addition, engineering support m

ust be available as deem

ed necessary.

Minim

um

Qualifications

Planning: Written plans

produced by ‘The Competent

Person’ plus job packs com

bined with toolbox talks are required for this level of lifting operation.

Risk Assessment: Risk

Assessments m

ust be undertaken and controlling m

easures recorded.

Supervision: By ‘The Com

petent Person’ with engineering support.

Control

Measures

The Organisation of Lifting Operations Flowchart

Complicated Lifts

Complicated Lifts

All Lifting Operations must be :

• competently planned

• appropriately supervised

• carried out in a safe m

anner

• risk assessed

The Competent Person: The appointed person responsible for producing written plans and supervising com

plicated and complex lifts.

Competent Personnel:

Personnel suitably trained and/or experienced to perform the lifting operation safely and ef� ciently at various

speci� c levels of dif� culty as illustrated below.

© NSL 2002 (Revised 2008)

Lifts

Lifting Operations

The International Rigging & Lifting Handbook l 49

8.51 Outrigger Bearing Pressure: Calculating the actual bearing pressure on outriggers can be quite complicated as there are so many variables. Normally, with the crane set up correctly, the bearing load would be spread across two outrigger foot plates, which would give you one set of values.

fig 8.13

As the crane booms out, the bearing pressure in these outrigger foot plates would increase due to the increased moment, generated by the extended radius. This would give you a higher set of values.

fig 8.14

As the crane slews round, the bearing pressure will decrease on one foot plate and increase on the other, resulting in yet an even higher bearing pressure value. Ideally, the crane manufacturer’s tables for the various bearing pressures in relation to loads / radii etc. should be consulted.

increase pressure on this outrigger footplate

boomed outslewed right

see fig 8.15 for view in this direction

The International Rigging & Lifting Handbook l 65

9.9 The length of the load chain should be checked to ensure that the bottom hook will reach the lowest point required without running the load chain fully out. If the load chain is permitted to run fully out, undue stress may be placed on the slack end anchorage (which is not a true load bearing component).

9.10 Always

i) Ensure the load rigging, ie sling / shackle / ring seats correctly in the bowl of the bottom hook and allows the safety catch to close.

ii) Ensure the load is correctly balanced.

iii) Position the hoist directly above the centre of gravity of the load (if known).

iv) Ensure all restrictions have been removed, eg hold-down bolts, etc.

9.11 Never

i) Load the tips of the hook.

fi g 9.3

fi g 9.2

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Plan View Elevation

27.2 Personnel Transfer Capsules (PTCs / Frogs)

The PTC is a personnel transport and evacuation capsule and is supplied complete with three seats fitted with four-point safety harnesses fitted to a shock absorbing central column with lifting slings. The capsule can be fitted with a variety of optional accessories.

fig 27.1

27.3 The PTC is designed to provide a safe and reversible method of transferring personnel to standby and supply vessels from offshore drilling rigs, although it can be used in many varying types of transfer at sea. It is designed to be safe and to be operated in heavier and rougher sea conditions than conventional transfer baskets.

27.4 The PTC comprises two main assemblies, an outer protective shell consisting of a stainless framework that houses the buoyancy panels and a central column seating assembly to provide shock absorption and support. All components are designed for the marine environment.

27.5 The yellow coloured PTC buoyancy panels are manufactured from medium density polyethylene. The PTC has three large open access points to permit rapid entry / exit. It can withstand lateral impacts of 2 m/s.

27.6 The buoyancy distribution ensures the PTC will float upright in the event of immersion. The central column supports a keel weight which ensures that the PTC will also self right.