Hoisting and Rigging Safety Manual by Infrastructure Health & Safety Association
This Safety Manual offers comprehensive guidance on safe hoisting and rigging practices — a fundamental resource for all who work with cranes, slings, ropes, and rigging hardware. It helps ensure lifts are planned, executed and monitored to prevent accidents, overloads, and unsafe working conditions.
Because hoisting and rigging involve many potential hazards — from overloading and rigging failure to environmental risks — having a robust, standardized manual is essential. At Cranes for You we include this manual in the Knowledge Centre to provide a solid baseline for safety, compliance, and professional rigging practice.
Summary of the Manual
The manual by the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association covers:
- Identification of common hazards in hoisting and rigging.
- Proper procedures and precautions before, during and after lifts — including load weight determination, equipment check, and safe operational practices.
- Use and inspection of fibre ropes, knots, wire ropes, slings, rigging hardware — with instructions for storage, maintenance, and safe usage.
- Guidance on rigging tools and devices (jacks, chain falls, winches, blocking/cribbing, hoists, anchorage, etc.) relevant for different types of lifts.
- An introduction to crane operations: responsibilities of personnel, crane types and configurations, hazards in crane-operating zones, working near powerlines, and factors affecting crane capacity.
In short — the manual serves as a foundational reference for safe hoisting & rigging practices, combining technical detail with practical operational guidance.
Practical Relevance for Heavy Lifting Industry
Using this manual in practice means:
- Rigging crews and operators share a common reference for safe rigging and hoisting — reducing misunderstandings and errors.
- All lifts are prepared with due consideration for load weight, centre of gravity, rigging angle, equipment capacity and environmental conditions — preventing overload and instability.
- Equipment (ropes, slings, hardware) is properly inspected, maintained, and used — extending lifespan and preventing failure.
- Procedural consistency across projects: from small lifts to complex hoists — aligning with industry standards and legal/regulatory requirements.
- Clear definition of responsibilities: operators, riggers, supervisors know what’s expected in terms of checks, approvals, and safe execution.
Especially for companies operating across sectors — construction, infrastructure, industrial maintenance, heavy transport — this manual provides a uniform safety standard that can drastically reduce risk.
Official Source / Reference
The guidance is based on the “Hoisting and Rigging Safety Manual” developed by the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA).
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Ready to Improve Safety and Efficiency?
A good hoisting and rigging manual is more than a document — it’s a foundation for consistent, safe and legally compliant lifts.
Download the IHSA manual via our contact link and integrate it into your company’s safety procedures. That way you ensure each lift meets professional standards, minimizes risk, and aligns with global best practices.
Or alternivaly drop us an e-mail and we will send you the document free of charge!
