Rigger Competence Assessment (previously stage 3)

This Product is for personnel that wish to become OPITO-certified competent riggers - having successfully completed the OPITO Rigger Initial Training Standard and Rigger Workplace Experience Logbook or possess sufficient and relevant work experience to be eligible for the OPITO Rigger Competence assessment.

This Product is to establish that the learner has the required underpinning knowledge, understanding and practical skills to fulfill the role of Rigger safely and effectively.

Learners must possess:

Option 1

(a) A valid OPITO-approved Rigger Initial Training Certificate awarded within the previous 32 months.

And

(b) A fully completed and valid OPITO Rigger Workplace Experience Logbook and supporting evidence for each of the 50 tasks*, such as a copy of the lifting plan, permit or toolbox, based on the OPITO Rigger Initial Training Standard and Rigger Workplace Experience Logbook requirements. The logbook must be signed as true and valid by the employing company head of discipline or the employing company discipline manager and confirmed by the Centre as being present and correct prior to assessment taking place.

*Supporting evidence is not required for learners who completed the Initial Training Standard (previously Stage 1) between February 29th, 2020, and February 28th, 2022.

Or

(c) If a learner completed the Rigger Initial Training Standard (previously Stage 1) between November 1st 2021, and November 30th 2023, a fully completed and valid OPITO Rigger Workplace Experience Logbook and supporting evidence for each of the 10 tasks, such as a copy of the lifting plan, permit or toolbox talk, based on the OPITO Rigger Initial Training Standard and Rigger Workplace Experience Logbook requirements. 

The logbook must be signed as true and valid by the employing company head of discipline or the employing company discipline manager and confirmed by the Centre as being present and correct prior to assessment taking place.

Option 2

(d) An OPITO Approved Rigger Competence Assessment or Re-Assessment Certificate awarded with the previous 30 months.

Option 3

(e) Evidence that they have been assessed as competent and have achieved an equivalent qualification/certification by a nationally recognised awarding body, awarded within the previous 30 months**.

Please note that after two years the certificate would no longer be valid (see Note 1 below).

Note 1: Learners who possess an OPITO Rigger Assessment or Re-Assessment Certificate which has expired by more than 6 months will be required to attend the OPITO Rigger Initial Training prior to undertaking the Rigger Competence Assessment. In these instances, there will be no requirement to complete a Work Experience Logbook.

**It is the responsibility of the Centre to confirm and demonstrate appropriate recognition and equivalency of the Learner's qualification/certification.

Medical entry requirements

Training and/or assessment activities contained within this Product may include physically demanding and potentially stressful elements. All personnel who participate in such activities must be capable of participating fully.

Therefore, OPITO-approved Centres are required, to ensure that prior to participating in practical exercises the learner undergoes medical screening by completing an appropriate medical screening form provided by the OPITO-approved Centre

The OPITO-approved Centre shall keep a record of the learner’s declaration of fitness in accordance with their document control policy(s) or procedures.

This information, along with summary details of the type of physical activities the learner will be asked to perform, will be given to learners by the OPITO-approved Centre and, if applicable, to their sponsoring company as part of the joining instructions. The responsibility for declaring any current or pre-existing medical conditions that could have adverse effects to the individual’s state of health while undertaking the training and/or assessment activities lies with the learner and/or company sponsoring the learner.

Where doubt exists regarding the fitness of any learner, the OPITO-approved Centre should direct the individual to consult a medical officer familiar with the nature and extent of the training.

Note: Practical exercises should be designed and delivered solely to meet this Product, and must not place on the learners any demands other than those required to meet the Product.

To achieve the OPITO Rigger Competence Assessment the learner will need to complete the 2 mandatory units

The learners will be expected to carry out two rigging and lifting operations for their assessment, where they will be expected to lead the rigging and lifting operations.

Learners will also be required to assist other learners on two rigging and lifting operations.

The expected timings are:

1.5 hours per rigging and lifting operation

1.5 hours allowed for the written test.

Note: Where assessment is conducted in the workplace: it must be completed within one trip or hitch; the length of the trip/hitch would depend on individual company work cycles.

Rigger Competence Reassessment

Please refer to Rigger Training and Assessment Framework also. 

2 years

Please note: If the expiry date on the learners previous certificate is within 3 months prior of the course enrolment date then the date of the new certificate should correspond with the expiry date of the existing/previous certificate unless stated otherwise by the Duty Holder or Asset Owner or Operator.