What’s the difference between a Competent, Qualified and Certified Rigger and Signal Person?

Summary: OSHA regulations and ASME standards require riggers and signal persons to be both competent and qualified. Competent persons must understand potential lifting hazards and the authority to stop work to avoid them. Qualified persons must be able to do the actual work required for a given task. While certifications are not legally required for riggers and signal persons, they can help to document and support worker capability and are increasingly mandated by project owners. 

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Heavy lift operations are one of the most important components of commercial, industrial and civil construction. They’re also among the actions that pose the most risk.

To protect the project, the materials and of course the workforce, it’s important to have the right people on the job.

But what exactly does the ‘right person’ mean for rigging and signaling? Between OSHA, ASME and project owner requirements, there’s a lot of slightly different terms about compliant riggers and signal persons, including:

• Competent Person
• Qualified Person
• Certified Person

Here, we’ll define these terms, identify the distinctions between them, and share how contractors can use this knowledge to ensure compliance and support a safer project site.

What Do ASME and OSHA Require of Riggers and Signal Persons?

Both ASME and OSHA are standard-setting bodies that impact the lifting industry.

• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) establishes best practices, codes and standards for proper work in industrial and manufacturing settings. While ASME provides the industry recommendations, they are not a legal enforcement group. ASME B30 guides the standards related to riggers and signal persons.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal regulatory agency that sets and enforces legal requirements. OSHA often references industry-leading organizations like ASME when establishing relevant laws. OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC governs requirements for cranes and derricks in construction, including rigging and signaling.

Do ASME and OSHA Require Riggers and Signal Persons to Be Certified?

Unlike with crane operators, ASME and OSHA do not explicitly require riggers and signal persons to hold an official certification.

For riggers, OSHA states “the rigging work is to be done by a qualified rigger.” For signal persons, both ASME and OSHA say that signal persons must be competent and qualified.

In this case, competent and qualified are not synonymous terms. They have unique definitions that are extremely important distinctions for compliance and safety.

What is a Competent Person in Rigging and Signaling?

According to OSHA 1926.1401, a competent person is:

• Capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions

AND

• Has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them

For riggers and signal persons, being competent means having knowledge of dangerous situations involving cranes, loads and the surrounding area, as well as having the on-site power to stop work and prevent an incident.

Both components are required: Someone with knowledge but no authority, or authority with insufficient knowledge, is not considered a competent person.

What is a Qualified Person in Rigging and Signaling?

According to OSHA 1926.1401, a qualified person is someone who has:

• Successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project

For riggers and signal persons, being qualified means actually being able to do the specific lifting operations-related task at hand. These abilities are earned through a combination of training and experience and are demonstrated by putting them into practice.

What is a Certified Person in Rigging and Signaling?

A certified person is someone who:

• Has been independently assessed and formally recognized by a recognized certification body as having the knowledge and skills required to perform a task.

For riggers and signal persons, being certified means having completed the requirements of a reputable rigging or signal person certification program, which may include a written test, a practical examination, or other elements.

Why is Certification Important for Riggers and Signal Persons?

While certification is not required for riggers and signal persons under OSHA and ASME, they can be extremely beneficial for these workers and their employers. Unlike being a competent or qualified person, being certified includes independent, standardized, and formal documentation. This documentation helps to support and reinforce that an individual is fit for field work.

In today’s construction industry, a growing number of project owners are trying to mitigate risk by requiring contractors to have their whole lift crew certified, including riggers and signal persons. While these additional owner requirements are not tied to OSHA enforcement, it can affect project bids and contract negotiations.

Is a Certified Rigger or Signal Person Considered Competent and Qualified?

It’s important to note that a certification only verifies that a person has met the requirements of the certification program they completed. A certification does not necessarily confirm that an individual is competent and qualified to be a rigger or signal person on every project or for every task.

However, a high-quality and rigorous certification program will be designed to measure individuals against industry standards. Certifications from trusted institutions like NCCER, who align their assessments with ASME and OSHA, will provide strong indicators for ability. Even with certifications, contractors should always conduct additional evaluation and verification that their riggers and signal persons are competent and qualified for a specific job.

How Competency, Qualification and Certification Work Together to Support a Strong Workforce

All three elements of rigger and signal person compliance – competency, qualification and certification – work together. They complement each other and help support safe lift operations.

• Competency covers awareness and authority to prevent or avoid hazards.
• Qualification covers ability and skill to execute the job.
• Certification covers formal documentation of industry-standard capabilities.

To meet regulations from OSHA and expectations from project owners, employers have a responsibility to understand how these elements relate to each other. They must ensure their heavy lift workforce meets or exceeds the industry’s established standards. A strong and compliant workforce is best equipped to delivery results on-time, on-budget and with a clean safety record.

 

To learn more about building effective rigger and signal person training and certification programs, watch our free webinar featuring NCCER lift operations expert Ray Rice.