Ground rigger

Ground riggers assist level riggers assembling temporary suspension structures to support performance equipment. Their work is based on instruction and plans. They work indoor as well as outdoor. They cooperate closely with high riggers.

Exludes people working in heights.
Includes people working in events and rental companies.
Excludes people performing industrial rigging.

Ground riggers typically do the following:

• make sure that the machinery is aligned, levelled and anchored
• prepare loads for transport by inspecting and preparing them
• operate cable, rope, pulley, winch, winches and other lifting equipment
• select the right pulleys, booms, braces and cables for various jobs
• assess the risks associated with lifting and moving heavy equipment through confined spaces
• ensure that safety procedures comply with state laws and company policies
• work closely with the rigging and construction teams
• clean, dismantle and store rigging equipment after the job is complete

The following job titles also refer to ground rigger:

rigging crew member
down rigger

Although no formal educational credential is required to work as a ground rigger, a high school diploma is preferred by many employers.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Ground rigger is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to ground rigger.

tent installer
event electrician
high rigger
event scaffolder
stagehand

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of ground rigger. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of ground rigger with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

followspot operator
dresser
video technician
scenic painter
set builder

These skills are necessary for the role of ground rigger.

• Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
• Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Use communication equipment: Set up, test and operate different types of communication equipment such as transmission equipment, digital network equipment, or telecommunications equipment.
• Assemble performance equipment: Set up sound, light and video equipment on stage before performance event according to specifications.
• Organise resources for artistic production: Coordinate human, material and capital resources within artistic productions, based on the given documentation e.g. scripts.
• Manage personal professional development: Take responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional development based on reflection about own practice and through contact with peers and stakeholders.
• Work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision: Take the necessary precautions while providing temporary power distribution for performance and art facility purposes under supervision.
• Work with respect for own safety: Apply the safety rules according to training and instruction and based on a solid understanding of the prevention measures and risks to your own personal health and safety.
• Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.
• Assemble truss constructions: Use trusses, metal structures that derive strength from their construction involving triangular shapes, to construct stages for performances.
• Store performance equipment: Safely dismantle sound, light and video equipment after a performance event. Make sure the equipment is correctly stored away.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of ground rigger. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manage technical resources stock: Manage and monitor technical resources stock to ensure that production demands and deadlines can be met at all times.
• Maintain chain hoists: Check, operate and repair chain hoists.
• Perform regular checks on rigging equipment: Perform regular in-depth checks on rigging equipment at the workshop and make the necessary repairs.
• Operate forklift: Operate a forklift, a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.
• Calculate rigging plots: Calculate the right data to determine how the rigging will operate during a performance.
• Perform first fire intervention: Intervene in the case of a fire in order to extinguish the fire or limit the effects pending the arrival of emergency services according to training and procedures.
• Hang chain hoists: Install chain hoists in building constructions.
• Ensure safety of mobile electrical systems: Take the necessary precautions while providing temporary power distribution independently. Measure and power up an installation.
• Operate telehandler: Transfer materials in a construction environment by using a telescopic handler.
• Maintain rigging equipment: Check rigging equipment before fitting up, and make small repairs if necessary.
• Use rope access techniques: Apply ropework to work in elevated position. Safely ascend and descend ropes, wearing a harness.
• Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
• Promote yourself: Market one’s own strengths in terms of skills and knowledge.
• Design rigging plots: Draw, design and calculate rigging plots.
• Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
• Evacuate people from heights: Safely evacuate people from heights using rope access techniques.
• Provide power distribution: Provide power distribution for light, stage, sound, video and recording purposes.
• Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

7215 – Riggers and cable splicers

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References

1. Ground rigger – ESCO
2. What Does A Rigger Do? | Indeed.com India