Rigging Inspection Checklist: What to Check Before Every Lift

The goal of a rigging inspection (keep it simple)

A good inspection does two things:

1. Find damage that makes the gear unsafe

2. Confirm the gear matches the lift (capacity, configuration, environment)

If you can’t confidently answer “Is it safe?” and “Is it the right gear for this lift?” stop and fix it before anyone gets under load.

Before you touch the gear: a 30-second pre-check

Look at the lift, then the rigging.

• What’s the load weight (actual or best known)?

• What’s the pick points and how will the load behave?

• Any sharp edges, heat, chemicals, or concrete abrasion?

• Any side-loading risk on hooks/shackles?

• Any tight radius bends or choke configurations that reduce capacity?

• Any wind, swing, blind spots, or crush zones?

This is where most “everything looked fine” incidents come from: rigging was fine, but it was wrong for the lift.

The Rigging Inspection Checklist (field version)

1) Slings (wire rope, synthetic, chain)

Check for “remove from service” red flags:

• Cuts, tears, burns, melted fibers (synthetic)

• Broken wires, kinks, birdcaging, crushed strands (wire rope)

• Stretched, cracked, twisted, or damaged links (chain)

• Exposed core, severe abrasion, embedded grit

• Damaged end fittings (eyes, thimbles, hooks)

• Knotting, improper splices, homemade repairs

Capacity check:

• Tag/ID is present and readable (WLL/capacity, type, length)

• Sling is appropriate for the environment (sharp edges, heat, chemicals)

• Correct type for the lift (basket, vertical, choke implications)

Field tip: If the tag is missing or unreadable, the sling becomes a guessing game. Guessing has no place under load.

2) Shackles

Look for:

• Bent body, bow deformation, cracks, deep gouges

• Pin damage (bent, worn, threads damaged)

• Pin doesn’t seat fully or won’t tighten properly

• Mismatched parts (pin from another shackle)

• Evidence of side loading (wear patterns, distortion)

Fit check:

• Correct size for the sling/hardware (no forcing, no prying)

• Pin fully engaged and secured properly for the application

3) Hooks (crane hook, sling hooks)

Look for:

• Deformation (opening widened, twist)

• Cracks, severe wear at the saddle

• Latch missing, broken, or not closing fully

• Signs of shock loading (damage, distortion)

Fit check:

• Load sits in the bowl (not tip-loaded)

• No side loading (pulling from the side)

• Latch is not “load-bearing” (it’s a retaining device)

4) Rigging hardware (links, rings, master links, swivels, spreader bars)

Look for:

• Cracks, bends, distortion, heavy corrosion

• Worn contact points and elongated holes

• Homemade attachments or unverified modifications

• Missing ID plates/tags on below-the-hook devices

Fit check:

• Hardware matches the configuration (no forced angles, no binding)

• Swivels rotate freely (if used), no grinding or sticking

5) The “setup” (where inspections get missed)

Even perfect gear fails in bad setups.

• Edges protected (corner protectors, softeners, padding)

• Sling angles controlled (avoid steep angles that increase tension)

• Load is balanced before lift

• Clear communication method confirmed (signal person, radios)

• Travel path clear, no one under the load

“Do Not Use” List (post this in the gang box)

Pull rigging gear immediately if you see:

• Missing/illegible tag or ID when capacity is unknown

• Cracks, deformation, or bent hardware

• Synthetic sling burns/melts/cuts

• Wire rope kinks/birdcaging/crushing

• Chain link cracks, stretching, severe wear

• Hook latch missing or not functioning

• Pins that don’t seat or damaged threads

• Any rigging that’s been shock loaded or dropped from height

If your crew argues about what “damaged” means, that’s a training gap. Get everyone aligned with crane + rigging training here:

2-minute supervisor verification (before the lift starts)

This is the quick “are we about to regret this?” check.

• Weight confirmed (or worst-case known)

• Pick points confirmed and rated (if applicable)

• Correct rigging selected (capacity + configuration)

• Edges protected and sling angle planned

• Signal person assigned (one voice)

• Clear swing radius / no-go zone set

• Test lift planned (lift a few inches to confirm balance)

Mini toolbox talk script 

Today’s focus is rigging inspection before every lift. Most rigging incidents come from small problems that get ignored, damaged cords, missing tags, bent shackles, hooks without a working latch, or gear used outside its limits.

Here’s what we’re doing every lift:

1. Inspect slings for cuts, burns, broken wires, kinks, and missing tags.

2. Inspect shackles and pins: no bent bodies, no damaged threads, no mismatched pins.

3. Inspect hooks: no deformation and the latch must close.

4. Confirm the rigging matches the lift: capacity, angle, edges protected.

5. No one under the load. Ever.

If anything looks questionable, we stop and swap it out. No debate.

Printable checklist

Title: Rigging Inspection Checklist (Pre-Lift)
Instructions: Check each item before the lift. Remove any damaged gear from service.

Slings

• Tag/ID present and readable

• No cuts, burns, tears (synthetic)

• No kinks, birdcaging, crushing (wire rope)

• No stretched/cracked links (chain)

• End fittings undamaged

• Correct sling type for the lift and environment

Shackles

• Body not bent or distorted

• Pin threads good; pin seats fully

• No cracks, deep gouges, severe corrosion

• Correct size and no side loading

Hooks

• No twist/deformation/widened opening

• No cracks or severe wear

• Latch present and functional

• Load will sit in the bowl (not tip loaded)

Hardware / Devices

• No cracks, bends, elongated holes

• IDs/tags present on devices (if applicable)

• No homemade modifications

Setup

• Edges protected

• Sling angles planned/controlled

• Signal person assigned

• No-go zone established

• Test lift planned (a few inches)

Result: PASS / FAIL
Action if FAIL: Remove from service and replace.

Recommended training path

If you want a clean training sequence that fits most crews:

1) Crew baseline (fastest “everyone gets the fundamentals” set)

• Crane and Derrick Safety Awareness for Construction (Eng/Spanish) 

• Rigging Safety for Construction 

• Fundamentals of Slings & Rigging Equipment

2) Hands-on riggers (deeper skill + inspection)

• Basic Rigging and Inspection

• Bull Rigging (if your work includes heavy/complex rigging) 

• Advanced Rigging (advanced applications)

3) Signalperson / hand signals (high-risk communication gap)

• Signaling for Mobile & Overhead Cranes 

• Signalperson Certification Test Prep

4) Supervisors / lift planning

• Introduction to Mobile Crane Planning

• Crane Safety Basics for Construction 

5) Inspectors (formal inspection capability)

• Trained Rigging Gear Inspector – Level I

• Overhead Crane Inspector 

6) NCCCO exam prep (when certification is required)

• NCCCO Rigger Level I & II Test Prep

• Mobile Crane Operator NCCCO Test Prep

7) Spanish option

• Rigging for Construction – Spanish

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