A hands-on rigging course where you make the real calls — sling angle, load weight and centre of gravity, hitch selection, and inspection rejects — across 19 interactions that decide whether the lift is safe. It builds judgment for the moment the load leaves the ground, not just recall of terminology.
Rigging and slinging fundamentals for every worker who connects a load to a hook — riggers, apprentices, and the trades who sling loads for cranes and hoists in construction, steel erection, industrial maintenance, manufacturing, and general industry. Aligned with the Manitoba WSH Act (C.C.S.M. c.
Give every worker who connects a load to a hook the fundamentals of doing it safely — choosing the right sling and hitch, respecting the rated Working Load Limit and the capacity tag, understanding that the sling angle multiplies the tension far beyond the…
At a glance
Format: Online, self-paced and interactive
Length: about 1 hour 15 minutes, 5 modules
Pass mark: 80% on the final test
Certificate: QR-verified, valid for one year
Jurisdiction: Manitoba law and standards
Who this course is for
Workers who rig, sling, and signal loads for lifting with cranes, hoists, and other lifting equipment.
Riggers and apprentice riggers who connect loads to cranes and hoists
Ironworkers, boilermakers, millwrights and trades who sling their own loads
Construction, steel-erection and industrial-maintenance workers who rig lifts
Manufacturing and warehouse staff who sling loads for overhead cranes
Supervisors and lead hands who direct rigging and lifting work
What you will learn
Identify the common sling types — wire rope, chain, synthetic web and round slings — and their basic uses and limits
Read and respect the rated Working Load Limit (WLL) on the capacity tag, and never use an untagged or illegible sling
Explain the three basic hitches (vertical, choker, basket) and how each changes the sling's capacity
Understand the sling-angle load factor — as the angle from horizontal gets flatter, the tension in each leg climbs far above the load's share (90°=1.0, 60°≈1.15, 45°≈1.41, 30°=2.0) — and rig to keep angles safe
Protect slings from sharp edges with softeners, and never shock-load or side-load rigging
Inspect slings and hardware before every use and reject by the type-specific criteria — damaged rigging is destroyed, not returned to the box
Course outline
The Connection — The sling is the single connection between the load and the hook, and a lift is only as safe as the sling holding it.
Slings, Ratings, and Hitches — The slinger's vocabulary — the three sling families (wire rope, chain, synthetic web/round) and their uses and limits; the rated Working…
The Angle You Can't Feel — The sling-angle load factor — the family's signature number: as the angle from horizontal gets flatter, the tension in each sling leg…
Inspect or Reject — Pre-use inspection and the type-specific reject criteria — wire rope (broken wires, kinks, birdcaging, corrosion), chain (stretch, gouges…
Rigging the Whole Pick — Rigging the whole pick — centre of gravity and balance (the hook over the centre of gravity so the load flies level), tag lines for…
Laws and standards covered
Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act (C.C.S.M. c. W210)
Passing the final test issues a QR-verified certificate, valid for one year. Orientra’s standard is for training to be reviewed at least annually and whenever the equipment, rigging or lift conditions change.
This certificate records completion of awareness-level knowledge training in rigging and slinging fundamentals. It does not confer rigger certification or crane operator qualification, and it does not replace site-verified hands-on rigging competency, which the employer must confirm before the holder rigs a load. The capacity tag on the sling and its rated Working Load Limit always govern.
Common questions
How long does Rigging & Slinging Fundamentals take?
About 1 hour 15 minutes online, over 5 modules, at your own pace. It ends with a final test that needs 80% to pass.
How long is the Rigging & Slinging Fundamentals certificate valid?
One year from the day you pass. Orientra’s standard is for training to be reviewed at least annually and whenever the equipment, rigging or lift conditions change.
Which laws and standards does Rigging & Slinging Fundamentals cover?
Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act (C.C.S.M. c. W210); Manitoba WSH Regulation MR 217/2006; CSA Z150 (Mobile Cranes) / CSA B167 (Overhead Cranes); and 4 more listed on this page.
Is the online certificate enough on its own?
This certificate records completion of awareness-level knowledge training in rigging and slinging fundamentals. It does not confer rigger certification or crane operator qualification, and it does not replace site-verified hands-on rigging competency, which the employer must confirm before the holder rigs a load. The capacity tag on the sling and its rated Working Load Limit always govern.