What is the first part of any rigging job?

• A. Plan the job
• B. Inspect the area
• C. Notify the supervisor
• D. Determine weather conditions

Answer: (A)

Planning the rigging job first sets the foundation for a safe and successful lift. It involves outlining how the load will be moved, where rigging points will be, what hardware and lifting equipment are required, and who will do what on the crew. This upfront thinking helps identify hazards, determine the load path, and establish the sequence of steps, so the rest of the work can be done with clear purpose and safety controls in place.

Once a plan is in place, the team can proceed to validate and refine it by inspecting the area for hazards, confirming the load weight and rigging points, checking weather conditions, and coordinating with supervision and other teams as needed. These steps are essential, but they are guided by the plan that was set first. Skipping planning can lead to surprises that make the subsequent checks and communications much harder and riskier, such as using the wrong rigging method, selecting inadequate gear, or having unclear roles during the lift.