Who this course is for
- Riggers, storemen and workshop staff who lift loads with a chain block or lever hoist
- Maintenance teams who lift motors, pumps and gearboxes during plant shutdowns
- Warehouse and yard staff who use manual hoists for loading and positioning
- Supervisors who have to appoint competent operators for lifting tackle
What you will be able to do after this course
- Inspect a chain block or lever hoist, its chain, hooks, latches and brake before use
- Select the right hoist and lifting tackle for the mass and shape of the load
- Rig, lift, position and land a load safely using the hoist
- Recognise the defects that take a hoist out of service and record them correctly
What the course covers
The course works through the Occupational Health and Safety Act Driven Machinery Regulations as they apply to lifting tackle, and then through the equipment itself.
Learners cover the parts of a chain block and lever hoist and how each works, safe working load and rated capacity, pre-use inspection of the chain, hooks, latches and brake, correct attachment and balancing of the load, lifting and landing technique, and the defects that mean a unit must be taken out of service. Theory is taught in the classroom and the lifting is done practically.
How you are assessed and what you receive
Assessment covers a written knowledge test and a practical lift, where the learner inspects the hoist, selects the tackle, rigs the load and then lifts, positions and lands it under supervision. On successful completion the learner is certificated against SAQA unit standard 244407. Certificates can be downloaded from the Fundza portal as well as issued directly.
What this certificate is worth
Lifting tackle falls under the Driven Machinery Regulations, which means an employer has to be able to show that the person using a hoist is competent to do so. This certificate is what a site safety officer or client auditor asks for, and it is normally checked at induction on mining and industrial sites. Learners can download the certificate from the Fundza portal whenever proof is needed.
Duration, dates and fees
| Option | Duration | Fee | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full course | 5 Days | R5,462 | First-time certification |
| Refresher | 1 Day | R1,094 | Already certified, renewing |
On-site delivery at your own workshop or plant is available and is usually the better option for a team, since the practical work is done on the hoists and loads your own people handle. For group bookings, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based.
Where and how the training runs
Training runs at the Fundza Training Institute centre in Mokopane, and on site at your own workshop or plant. On-site delivery is generally the better option for a maintenance team, because the practical lifting is done on the equipment they use every day. For a group booking, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.
Chain hoist and overhead crane: how they differ
| Chain hoist (this course) | Pendant controlled overhead crane | |
|---|---|---|
| What it certifies | Manual chain block and lever hoist | Powered overhead or gantry crane |
| Unit standard | SAQA 244407 | SAQA 116235 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Typically used for | Positioning and short lifts in a workshop | Repetitive lifting along a bay or shop floor |
Both are lifting machinery under the same regulations, but they certify different equipment. A workshop that runs both normally sends the same people on both courses.
Where this course can take you
Chain hoist sits inside the lifting and rigging stack at Fundza. The natural next steps are Sling and Communicate and Slings Load, which cover attaching the load and signalling to the operator, and Operate a pendant controlled overhead crane for teams moving onto powered lifting. Browse the full range of lifting machinery training.
Enquire about this course
Tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.