What do advanced, intermediate and basic rigging courses involve?

If you’re looking to gain employment in the construction industry, you will need to obtain a high-risk work (HRW) licence. This is a legal requirement under Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) legislation. 

However, depending on the kind of work you want to do, you may also be required to achieve an HRW licence for dogging and rigging specifically. 

An HRW licence for dogging is required by anyone who applies slinging techniques to a load — likewise, an HRW licence for rigging is required for moving, placing or securing a load using mechanical load shifting equipment and erecting/dismantling cranes and hoists — for example:

• Installing static lines/safety nets
• Installing hoists
• Erecting precast tilt-up concrete panels and structural steel
• Moving plant and equipment
• Installing perimeter safety screens and shutters
• Installing crane loading systems. 

To achieve an HRW licence for rigging, you must complete training with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) like All Class Training. 

In this article, we explain what is involved in advanced, intermediate and basic rigging courses so you know what to expect from your training. Read on. 

Eligibility criteria for all rigging courses

To take part in any of our rigging courses, you will need to meet the following requirements: 

• 100 points of identification
• USI number
• Over 18-years 
• Must be a New South Wales resident
• Able to read, write and articulate in English
• Complete pre-course study materials.

Note: Qualifications must be completed in sequence. For example, if you plan to take our basic rigging course, you will need to complete our dogging course first to ensure you have the knowledge and experience required for basic rigging. The sequence for qualifications is as follows:

1. Dogging
2. Basic rigging
3. Intermediate rigging
4. Advanced rigging

What is involved in basic rigging courses? 

You will need to have completed dogging qualifications before commencing our basic rigging course.

Basic rigging is involved in:

• Erecting perimeter safety screens and shutters
• Erecting safety nets and static lines
• The placement of precast concrete
• Erecting hoists including mast climbing hoists
• The movement of plant and equipment
• Erecting steel. 

In our basic rigging course, you will complete a combination of classroom and practical learning. You will be required to perform all of the activities listed above as well as cantilever crane loading platforms — this will be completed in our purpose-built facility under the supervision of our experienced trainers. 

Once you have completed the classroom and practical training, we will put your skills to the test with practical, theory and math assessments. 

What is involved in intermediate rigging courses?

You will need to have completed basic rigging qualifications before commencing our intermediate rigging course.

Intermediate rigging involves all the work of basic rigging plus: 

• Cranes, conveyors, dredges and excavators 
• Hoists with jibs and self-climbing hoists 
• Demolition
• Dual lifts
• Tilt slabs. 

In our intermediate rigging course, you will also learn via classroom instruction and practical learning. You will be required to perform the rigging of cranes and conveyors, rigging associated with tilt slabs, rigging associated with demolition work and dual lifts.

Because this is a higher-level course, you will be assessed in a practical group setting (as well as the standard theory and math assessments). 

What is involved in advanced rigging courses?

You will need to have completed intermediate rigging qualifications before commencing our advanced rigging course.

Advanced rigging involves all the work of basic and intermediate rigging as well as: 

• Suspended and fabricated hung scaffolds
• Flying foxes and cableways
• Gin poles and shear legs
• Guyed derricks and structures. 

In an advanced rigging course, you would be expected to plan for the work, select and inspect equipment (as well as flagging equipment with wear and tear), set up the task and erect/dismantle structures and plant. As you can see, there is a level of risk assessment and hazard control strategies involved in this level of rigging. 

Like the intermediate course, you will be assessed in a practical group setting and be required to complete the standard theory and math assessments to ensure you understand the course material and safety requirements. 

Note: Advanced rigging courses are held on the client’s site. Your site will need to have all the required equipment for the training and assessment.

Applying for your HRW licence for rigging

Once you have passed our assessments, we will provide you with the application forms you need for a new HRW licence/card. We will complete the paperwork for you — then, you will need to take those forms to your local Australia Post office as well as 100 points of identification. 

Here’s a rundown of what is expected to lodge your application form:

• Application form — completed but unsigned. We will provide this for you. If you have already signed the form, you will be asked to resign the form at the time of lodgement.
  
  
• NSA forms — again, we will provide these for you. You will need to take your orange and white copies to the post office with you.
  

• Evidence of identity (EOI) — this is your 100 points of identification. Examples include your Australian birth certificate, Australian citizenship certificate, passport, driver’s licence, current HRW licence, Centrelink cards, Medicare cards, etc.
  

• Passport photograph — a quality and coloured passport-sized photo is required for your card. You must write your name and date of birth on the back of the photograph.
  

• Any current HRW licences — be sure to bring along any current NSW issued HRW licences you hold so that they can be included on your new HRW licence.
  

• Your preferred payment method — you can pay for your new licence via cash, EFTPOS, Mastercard or VISA. If you pay via cheque, your application will not be processed until the funds have cleared. 

Please note that you must lodge your application within 60 days of your NSA forms being issued. Until your new card has been issued, you can show the pink copy of your NSA form or existing HRW licence to perform work in the classes you were assessed in. 

Book your advanced, intermediate or basic rigging course with All Class Training today 

For expert training in a purpose-built dogging and rigging facility, contact us today. We run regular dogging and rigging courses in Tomago, just outside of Newcastle NSW. See our course calendar here and get in touch to book your training today.