COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Safety Leadership in Rigging & Lifting Operations course. This training will equip you with the skills and knowledge to lead with integrity, accountability, and awareness while meeting your legal duties and influencing the behaviour of your crew.

Leadership is not only about task management; it is about fostering a culture of safety, guiding decision-making under pressure, and preventing incidents before they occur.

This course begins with an exploration of what safety leadership looks like on a rigging site. You will examine the difference between basic compliance and active leadership, and understand how strong leadership can directly prevent lifting incidents and fatalities. Safety leadership means more than following procedures—it means setting the standard, leading by example, and empowering others to do the same.

Understanding your legal responsibilities is essential. This section breaks down the duties of Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs), officers, and supervisors under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and associated Regulations. You will learn about the consequences of unsafe leadership, including personal liability, and the importance of demonstrating due diligence at all times.

Effective leaders display core qualities such as consistency, communication, and integrity. This section focuses on the traits that foster safety-conscious teams and the behaviours that build trust and credibility. Leading by example—through PPE use, site conduct, and procedural discipline—reinforces expectations more powerfully than words alone.

Hazard awareness is a leadership responsibility. This section explores the typical hazards in rigging, hoisting, and load movement, including load instability, human error, and inadequate lift planning. You will analyse case studies of past incidents and learn to identify early signs of unsafe conditions that require intervention.

Strong leadership is visible during pre-starts and toolbox talks. Participants will learn how to prepare and deliver clear, practical briefings that set the tone for safe operations. You will practise engaging your team, encouraging open dialogue, and addressing questions or concerns before the work begins.

Cultivating a safety-first culture requires ongoing effort. This section explores strategies for reinforcing the value of safety over productivity, recognising proactive behaviours, and fostering an environment where team members feel safe to report hazards or mistakes without fear of reprisal.

Developing and communicating lift plans is a leadership task. You will learn how to lead the planning process, confirm sequencing, review rigging studies, and ensure all personnel understand their role in the lift. Ensuring alignment between the lift plan and on-site conditions is critical to execution.

Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) must be more than paperwork. This section focuses on your role in verifying that SWMS documents reflect actual risks, ensuring the team understands all controls, and monitoring compliance throughout the job. When conditions change, the SWMS must be reviewed and updated promptly.

Quality leadership includes supervising rigging gear inspection and selection. You will learn how to verify that equipment is correctly tagged, in good condition, and appropriate for the load. Knowing when to escalate concerns about defective or unsuitable gear is part of a leader’s duty of care.

Lifting operations demand real-time coordination. This section covers managing complex and multi-crane lifts, enforcing exclusion zones, using tag lines, and directing load movement clearly and safely. You will learn how to maintain control during unexpected load shifts or breakdowns in communication.

Leadership is tested when conflict or uncertainty arises. You will develop strategies to manage disagreements calmly, make informed decisions under pressure, and stop work when conditions become unsafe. The ability to pause work is a key indicator of confident, responsible leadership.

Clear communication is central to safe rigging work. This section outlines how to establish radio protocols, standardise hand signals, and ensure everyone understands stop-work commands. You will learn how to escalate issues promptly and keep communication channels open and effective at all times.

Monitoring behaviour on site is part of ongoing supervision. This section explains how to conduct safety walks, observe practices in real time, and use behavioural checklists to identify areas for coaching. Addressing unsafe behaviours constructively helps reinforce positive habits without undermining morale.

Mentoring is a key part of your leadership role. You will learn how to support apprentices, junior doggers, and new team members through informal training, feedback, and daily engagement. Fostering competence and confidence builds both team capability and safety outcomes.

When incidents or near misses occur, leadership must be visible. This section focuses on managing the immediate response—isolating hazards, supporting injured workers, and initiating post-incident reviews. Learning from these events and implementing corrective actions is a core part of your leadership responsibilities.

Emergency preparedness requires active leadership. You will be guided on how to develop, communicate, and drill emergency procedures for dropped loads, fall-from-height rescues, equipment failure, or environmental events. Your ability to lead during a crisis can determine the outcome for your team.

Continuous improvement underpins long-term safety leadership. This section explains how to gather team feedback, review incident data, and set safety goals. Leadership is not static—improving your systems, plans, and approach over time is essential for sustained success.

Finally, safety leadership must be consistent across all projects. You will explore how to maintain your standards in changing site conditions, influence broader site culture, and reflect on your own development needs. Great leaders are learners, and your growth will shape the safety culture of the teams you lead.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped to lead rigging and lifting teams with confidence, competence, and integrity—demonstrating the behaviours, decisions, and communication required to prevent incidents and elevate safety performance on every project.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Safety Leadership in Rigging and Lifting

• Definition of safety leadership in high-risk lifting environments
• The difference between safety compliance and proactive leadership
• Importance of leadership in preventing rigging incidents and fatalities

2. Legal Responsibilities and WHS Duties for Leaders

• Duty of care under the WHS Act and WHS Regulations
• Responsibilities of PCBU, officers, and supervisors in rigging teams
• Legal consequences of unsafe leadership or negligence

3. Leadership Qualities in High-Risk Work Environments

• Attributes of effective safety leaders: integrity, communication, consistency
• Leading by example on site: PPE, behaviour, procedures
• Building trust and credibility within rigging crews

4. Understanding Rigging and Lifting Hazards

• Identifying hazards specific to lifting, hoisting, and suspended loads
• Analysing causes of past incidents: human error, miscommunication, failure to plan
• Linking hazard awareness to leadership responsibility

5. Leading Pre-Start and Toolbox Meetings Effectively

• Delivering clear, relevant, and engaging safety briefings
• Using pre-starts to set safety expectations for each lift
• Encouraging input and concerns from workers

6. Promoting a Safety-First Culture Among Rigging Teams

• Reinforcing the value of safety over speed or convenience
• Recognising and rewarding safe behaviour and initiative
• Creating psychological safety for workers to report issues

7. Developing and Communicating Lift Plans

• Leading the preparation and review of lift plans and rigging studies
• Ensuring all stakeholders understand their responsibilities
• Coordinating sequencing and site conditions before execution

8. Leading Through Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

• Verifying that SWMS reflects current risks and site conditions
• Ensuring team understanding of controls and procedures
• Monitoring compliance and updating SWMS when conditions change

9. Supervising Rigging Gear Selection and Inspection

• Ensuring proper inspection of slings, shackles, chains, spreaders, etc.
• Confirming gear is fit for purpose and tagged appropriately
• Escalating issues with defective or questionable equipment

10. Coordinating Safe Load Movement on Site

• Directing teams during complex or multi-crane lifts
• Managing exclusion zones and tag line responsibilities
• Responding to unexpected load shifts or communication breakdowns

11. Conflict Management and Decision-Making Under Pressure

• Resolving disagreements between workers or subcontractors
• Making calm, informed decisions during high-risk moments
• Knowing when to stop work or escalate safety concerns

12. Communication and Escalation Protocols

• Establishing clear communication expectations during rigging
• Ensuring all team members understand stop-work signals and radio use
• Escalating near misses or deviations from plan effectively

13. Monitoring and Observing Safe Behaviour

• Conducting safety walks and real-time assessments of team performance
• Identifying unsafe habits and addressing them constructively
• Using checklists and behavioural observation tools

14. Coaching and Mentoring Within the Rigging Team

• Supporting junior riggers, doggers, and apprentices
• Delivering informal training and skills reinforcement
• Creating a development mindset for safety and competence

15. Responding to Incidents and Near Misses as a Leader

• Leading immediate site response and hazard isolation
• Supporting injured workers and affected personnel
• Conducting post-incident reviews and implementing corrective actions

16. Leading Emergency Preparedness for Rigging Operations

• Developing and briefing teams on emergency procedures
• Ensuring readiness for dropped load, fall, or equipment failure scenarios
• Coordinating with emergency services and response drills

17. Continuous Improvement Through Safety Leadership

• Gathering team feedback and incorporating lessons learned
• Reviewing incident trends and improving systems proactively
• Setting new safety goals for future lifting operations

18. Sustaining Safety Leadership Across Projects

• Applying leadership consistency across varying site conditions
• Influencing broader site culture beyond the rigging crew
• Reflecting on leadership style and professional development needs

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.