Who this course is for
- Riggers and banksmen who sling loads and direct crane operators on site
- Lifting teams on mines, plants and construction projects
- Maintenance and shutdown crews coordinating lifts of plant and structures
- Supervisors who have to appoint a competent rigger and signaller for a lift
What you will be able to do after this course
- Inspect and select lifting gear for the mass, shape and centre of gravity of a load
- Prepare, attach and balance a load ready for lifting
- Position and control a load in the air, including with tag lines
- Direct a crane operator through a full lift using standard signals
What the course covers
The course gives learners the skills and knowledge needed to coordinate crane operations safely, combining the rigging and the communication into one competency.
Learners cover types of sling and lifting tackle and their safe working loads, inspection and rejection criteria, estimating load mass and locating the centre of gravity, sling angles and leg loading, hitch types and edge protection, attaching and balancing loads, tag lines and load control, the standard hand signals and radio discipline used to direct an operator, and the responsibilities shared between the rigger, banksman and operator. The rigging and signalling are assessed practically.
How you are assessed and what you receive
Assessment covers a written knowledge test and a practical, where the learner inspects and selects gear, rigs a load and directs a supervised lift from pick to land. On successful completion the learner is certificated, and the certificate can be downloaded from the Fundza portal as well as issued directly.
What this certificate is worth
Most lifting incidents trace back to the rigging or the communication rather than the crane itself, which is why sites want the rigger and the signaller certificated alongside the operator. The certificate is what closes the lifting team out at induction. Learners can download it from the Fundza portal at any time.
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 operation is available and is usually the better option for a lifting crew, because operator, rigger and banksman can be trained together on the gear they use. 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 operation. On-site delivery is generally better for a lifting crew, since the whole team ends up working to the same signals on the same equipment. 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.
The two slinging courses: how they differ
| Sling and communicate during crane operation (this course) | Slings load | |
|---|---|---|
| What it certifies | Rigging and directing a crane through a full lift | Selecting and attaching slings to a load |
| Includes signalling | Yes | No |
| Duration | 5 days | 2 days |
| Best for | Dedicated riggers and banksmen | Stores and workshop staff preparing loads |
If the person rigging the load is also the one directing the crane, this is the course. If they only prepare and attach the load, the shorter Slings Load course covers it.
Where this course can take you
Slinging and communicating sits in the middle of the lifting stack at Fundza. It is normally booked alongside Mobile Crane Operator, Operate Heavy Crane or Operate a Pendant Controlled Overhead Crane so the whole lifting team is certificated, with Working at Heights added where rigging happens on structures.
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.