What Do Riggers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Riggers set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry. They also signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials.

Other tasks include:

• Test rigging to ensure safety and reliability.
• Attach loads to rigging to provide support or prepare them for moving, using hand and power tools.
• Select gear such as cables, pulleys, and winches, according to load weights and sizes, facilities, and work schedules.
• Control movement of heavy equipment through narrow openings or confined spaces, using chainfalls, gin poles, gallows frames, and other equipment.
• Tilt, dip, and turn suspended loads to maneuver over, under, or around obstacles, using multi-point suspension techniques.
• Install ground rigging for yarding lines, attaching chokers to logs and to the lines.

We asked Riggers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Riggers attach loads to rigging to provide support or prepare them for moving, using hand and power tools. They control movement of heavy equipment through narrow openings or confined spaces, using chainfalls, gin poles, gallows frames, and other equipment.

A typical day for a Rigger will also include:

• Install ground rigging for yarding lines, attaching chokers to logs and to the lines.
• Select gear such as cables, pulleys, and winches, according to load weights and sizes, facilities, and work schedules.
• Tilt, dip, and turn suspended loads to maneuver over, under, or around obstacles, using multi-point suspension techniques.
• Manipulate rigging lines, hoists, and pulling gear to move or support materials such as heavy equipment, ships, or theatrical sets.
• Dismantle and store rigging equipment after use.

We asked some Riggers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	67% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	46% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	76% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	17% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	9% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	81% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Riggers also clean and dress machine surfaces and component parts. They may also align, level, and anchor machinery.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Riggers Test rigging to ensure safety and reliability. They might also Fabricate, set up, and repair rigging, supporting structures, hoists, and pulling gear, using hand and power tools.

In addition, they Attach pulleys and blocks to fixed overhead structures such as beams, ceilings, and gin pole booms, using bolts and clamps.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials.

To some Riggers, it is also their responsibility to Manipulate rigging lines, hoists, and pulling gear to move or support materials such as heavy equipment, ships, or theatrical sets.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Rigger, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

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