LOLER Competency Assessment

When applying for employment within the lifting industry, most employers will now require you to carry out an online competency question assessment test. These test can last between 10 to 30 minutes to complete, and will involve a number of questions that will vary from pictorial questions on general types of lifting equipment, through to safe use and safe operations, also included will be questions based on current lifting regulations.

The complexity of the questions will depend on the nature of the job that you are applying for and you will usually be required to achieve a score of 70% or more to reach the interview stage.

The Riggers Competency Assessment will walk you through 3 assessment levels,

Slinger level, questions are based on common sense, safe working loads, types of lifting appliances safe slinging practices and basic understanding of lifting regulations.

Rigger level, include calculation of loads, D/d ratio, hitch capacities, relationships between MBL, WLL, SWL identification of ropes, attachments and safe use.

Advanced/Inspection level, questions are focus on testing and regulations, tensile strengths vectors forces, moment, shear, and axial forces, compression tension, hardness testing, grading of lifting equipment, fit for purpose and so on.

Each level of questions comes with easy explanations equation workings and simple to follow problem solving.

Currently there is no such thing as a harmonized international standard for lifting regulations.

All questions and answers are based on current recommendation set out by the manufactures of lifting equipment; their standards are closest thing to an international harmonized standard, and cover most lifting and inspection standards for oil, gas and nuclear industry.

OSHA, States that a qualified rigger is a rigger who meets the criteria for a qualified person. Employers must determine whether a person is qualified to perform specific rigging tasks. Each qualified rigger may have different credentials or experience. A qualified rigger is a person that: possesses a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or has extensive knowledge, training, and experience, and can successfully demonstrate the ability to solve problems related to rigging loads.

As specified in 29 CFR 1926.1401, 1926.1404, and 1926.1425.

The person designated as the qualified rigger must have the ability to properly rig the load for a particular job. It does not mean that a rigger must be qualified to do every type of rigging job.

Employers must use qualified riggers during hoisting activities for assembly and dis-assembly work (1926.1404(r)(1)). Additionally, qualified riggers are required whenever workers are within the fall zone and hooking, unhooking, or guiding a load, or doing the initial connection of a load to a component or structure (1926.1425(c)).