Rigging and Hoisting Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

Assessment Date: [DATE]

Assessor: [ASSESSOR NAME]

Department/Area: [DEPARTMENT/AREA]

Review Date: [REVIEW DATE]

1. Assessment Scope

This risk assessment covers all rigging and hoisting operations performed by elevator trade personnel. It includes the selection, inspection, and use of rigging equipment, as well as the hoisting and lowering of materials and equipment. The scope excludes elevator installation, which is covered under a separate risk assessment.

2. Risk Assessment Methodology

This risk assessment uses a 5x5 risk matrix to determine risk levels. The hierarchy of controls is applied to mitigate identified hazards, prioritizing elimination and substitution where feasible, followed by engineering controls, administrative controls, and finally, personal protective equipment (PPE).

3. Risk Matrix Reference

The following matrix is used to evaluate risk levels based on likelihood and severity:

		Likelihood
Rare	Unlikely	Possible	Likely	Almost Certain
Severity	Catastrophic	Low	Low	Medium	Medium	High
Major	Low	Medium	Medium	High	High
Moderate	Medium	Medium	High	High	Extreme
Minor	Medium	High	High	Extreme	Extreme
Negligible	High	High	Extreme	Extreme	Extreme

4. Hazard Identification and Risk Evaluation

1. Falling Load: Failure of rigging equipment or improper rigging techniques can result in dropped loads.

Potential Consequences: Serious injury or fatality to workers or the public; damage to equipment and property. [7] [7] [7] [7]

Affected Persons: Workers, public, and other trades

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Use pre-planned routes for suspended loads to ensure no employee is required to work directly below a suspended load, except for employees engaged in the initial connection of the steel or employees necessary for the hooking or unhooking of the load.
• Ensure materials being hoisted are rigged to prevent unintentional displacement
• Use hooks with self-closing safety latches or their equivalent to prevent components from slipping out of the hook
• All loads must be rigged by a qualified rigger

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

2. Equipment Malfunction: Failure of crane, hoist, or rigging hardware due to wear, lack of maintenance, or improper use.

Potential Consequences: Equipment damage, dropped loads, and potential injuries to workers. [6] [5] [5] [5]

Affected Persons: Workers

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

Control Measures

• Pre-shift visual inspection of cranes must be performed by a competent person.
• Any deficiency identified, an immediate determination must be made by the competent person as to whether the deficiency constitutes a hazard.
• If the deficiency is determined to constitute a hazard, the hoisting equipment must be removed from service until the deficiency has been corrected.
• The operator is responsible for those operations under the operator's direct control, and whenever there is any doubt as to safety, the operator has the authority to stop and refuse to handle loads until safety has been assured.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Rare	Minor	Low

3. Personnel Lifting Hazards: Using cranes or hoists to lift personnel can result in falls or equipment failure if not properly managed.

Potential Consequences: Serious injury or fatality to workers being lifted. [2] [2] [2] [2]

Affected Persons: Workers

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Ensure workers are trained on safe access pursuant to these rules before performing any job related to hoisting employees aloft for work.
• An anti-two block device shall be used on all hoists
• A qualified person shall determine that the rigging, hoist line, and slings shall have a factor of safety of 10:1 against failure during personnel lifts.
• The hoist line used to raise or lower employees must be wire rope and may be equipped with a swivel to prevent any rotation of the employees.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

4. Loss of Load Control: Swinging loads, uncontrolled movement during hoisting, or inability to precisely place materials.

Potential Consequences: Material damage, minor injuries to workers. [1] [7]

Affected Persons: Workers

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Moderate	Medium

Control Measures

• Tag lines shall be used to control loads except when it is determined, by a qualified rigger, that they create a hazard.
• Routes for suspended loads shall be pre-planned

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Minor	Low

5. Struck by Swinging Equipment: Workers being struck by the rotating superstructure or counterweight of the crane or hoist.

Potential Consequences: Bruising, fractures, or other impact injuries. [3] [3]

Affected Persons: Workers

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Moderate	Medium

Control Measures

• Barricade the hazardous area
• Train and instruct each employee to stay out of the danger area and require a danger sign be affixed to the rear and sides of the house and counterweight. The danger sign shall have additional lettering to indicate that the counterweight is swinging.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Minor	Low

6. Gin Pole Failure: Structural failure of gin poles due to improper setup, overloading, or inadequate inspection.

Potential Consequences: Collapse of the gin pole, dropped load, and potential serious injuries or fatalities. [2] [2]

Affected Persons: Workers

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

Control Measures

• Ensure that gin pole inspections include documented inspection annually by a qualified person.
• The employer shall designate a competent person who shall visually inspect the gin pole and rigging prior to each use, and during use, to ensure it is in safe operating condition. Any deficiencies shall be repaired before use continues.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Rare	Minor	Low

5. General Control Measures

• Conduct daily pre-shift inspections of all hoisting and rigging equipment by a competent person. Ensure that equipment is in safe operating condition and that all deficiencies are corrected before use. Inspections should include control mechanisms, drive mechanisms, safety devices, and pressurized lines.

Use a standardized inspection checklist to ensure all critical components are checked. [1] [1] [1] [1] [1]

• Ensure that all workers involved in rigging and hoisting operations are properly trained and qualified. Training should include, but not be limited to, proper rigging techniques, load control, equipment operation, and hazard identification.

Provide documented training and refresher courses. Verify competency through practical assessments.

• Establish and maintain a clear communication system between the crane operator, signal person, and ground crew. Use standardized hand signals or radio communication to ensure clear and concise instructions.

Conduct pre-lift meetings to review lift plans and communication protocols.

• Ensure that the rated capacity of the hoist is not exceeded.

Always refer to the manufacturer's load charts and consider all factors that may affect the crane's capacity, such as boom angle and load radius. [3]

• Implement a comprehensive lockout/tagout procedure to prevent the unexpected start-up of equipment during maintenance or repair activities.

Follow OSHA standards for lockout/tagout procedures. Ensure all energy sources are properly isolated and tagged before work begins.

6. Emergency Preparedness

• Establish an emergency response plan that includes procedures for responding to events that may require rescue or evacuation. [8]
• The emergency response plan must include the identification of potential emergencies, procedures for dealing with the identified emergencies, the identification of, location of and operational procedures for emergency equipment and PPE. [8]
• Designate workers who will provide rescue services and supervise evacuation procedures in an emergency. [8]
• Ensure that designated rescue and emergency workers are trained in emergency response appropriate to the work site and the potential emergencies identified in the emergency response plan. [8]
• The training must include exercises appropriate to the work site that simulate the potential emergencies identified in the emergency response plan. [8]

7. Training Requirements

• Personnel Lifting Training: Workers must be trained on safe access pursuant to these rules before performing any job related to hoisting employees aloft for work. [2]
• Hoist Operator Training: Operators of material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators must be trained and qualified to operate the hoisting equipment to which the employee is assigned. [3]
  • Capabilities of the equipment
  • Purpose, use, and limitations of the controls
  • How to conduct daily inspections
  • Operational practices of the assigned equipment through its functions necessary to perform the required job
  • Applicable state standards and company rules and regulations.
• Qualified Rigger Training: Qualified rigger training must cover the inspection of rigging prior to each shift in accordance with $ 1926.251. [5]
• Pinch Point and Struck By Protection Training: Training on pinch point and struck by protection must be provided to each employee to stay out of the danger area and require a danger sign be affixed to the rear and sides of the house and counterweight. The danger sign shall have additional lettering to indicate that the counterweight is swinging. [3]
• Multiple Lift Training: Training must be provided to workers engaged in multiple lift procedures in accordance with 1926.761 (c)(1). [9]

8. Monitoring and Review

Review Frequency: Annually, and after any incident or near-miss

Monitoring Type	Frequency	Responsible Party	Description
Regular Inspection	Daily and before each use	Competent Person	Regularly inspect wire rope. Wire rope used for material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exists: In hoisting ropes and running ropes, 6 randomly distributed broken wires in 1 rope lay or 3 broken wires in 1 strand in 1 rope lay. [4]
Regular Inspection	Daily and before each use	Competent Person	Regularly inspect wire rope. Wire rope used for material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exists: Abrasion, scrubbing, flattening, peening, kinking, crushing, bird caging, or any other damage resulting in distortion of the rope structure and causing loss of more than 1/3 of the original diameter of the outside wires. [4]
Regular Inspection	Daily and before each use	Competent Person	Regularly inspect wire rope. Wire rope used for material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exists: Evidence of any heat damage from any cause, including damage resulting from a torch or any damage caused by contact with electrical wires. [4]
Regular Inspection	Daily and before each use	Competent Person	Regularly inspect wire rope. Wire rope used for material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exists: Reduction from nominal diameter of more than 3/64 inch for diameters up to and including 3/4 inch; 1/16 inch for diameters 7/8 to 1-1/8 inches; and 3/32 inch for diameters 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches. [4]
Regular Inspection	Daily and before each use	Competent Person	Regularly inspect wire rope. Wire rope used for material hoists, personnel hoists, and elevators shall be removed from service when any of the following conditions exists: In standing ropes, more than 2 broken wires in 1 lay in sections beyond end connections or more than 1 broken wire at an end connection. [4]

9. Special Circumstances

• Adverse weather conditions such as high winds, heavy rain, or ice can significantly increase the risk associated with rigging and hoisting operations. Operations should be suspended when weather conditions compromise safety.
• Night work introduces additional hazards due to reduced visibility. Ensure adequate lighting is provided in the work area and on the load.
• Lone work should be avoided during critical rigging and hoisting operations. Ensure that there is adequate supervision and communication in place when lone work is unavoidable.

Approval and Sign-off

This risk assessment has been reviewed and approved by:

Assessor: _________________________ Date: __________

Manager/Supervisor: _________________________ Date: __________

Safety Representative: _________________________ Date: __________

This risk assessment must be reviewed annually, and after any incident or near-miss or when significant changes occur.

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