Glossary
Rigger Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential rigger terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key rigger vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in rigger training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Basket hitch
- Sling cradles load.
- Center of gravity
- Balance point.
- Choker hitch
- Sling wraps around load.
- Critical lift
- High-risk lift.
- Lift plan
- Written plan for lifts.
- Load chart
- Crane capacity chart.
- Machinery skates
- Rollers for moving machines.
- Rigging inspection
- Checking gear.
- Shackle
- Connecting hardware.
- Signalperson
- Directs crane operator.
- Sling
- Lifting strap or chain.
- Sling angle
- Angle that changes load.
- Spreader bar
- Distributes load.
- Tag line
- Rope to control loads.
- WLL
- Working load limit.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Rigger practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Rigger training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.