NCCCOF, Work to Zero Report

The NCCCO Foundation (NCCCOF) and the Work to Zero program at National Safety Council (NSC) are publishing a new research report focused on the state of rigging and signaling in the crane industry and its effect on safety.

The study establishes a baseline understanding of current rigging and signaling practices, examining how variability across technical, human and organizational factors contributes to risk.

The report confirms the importance of rigging and signaling in conducting a safe lift.

Key findings from the report include:

• Ninety-eight percent of survey respondents experienced communication challenges during crane lifts within the previous 90 days, highlighting the need for stronger communication and pre-lift planning
• Nonstandard signaling practices contribute to confusion and increased risk on jobsites
• Human and organizational factors, including production pressure, inadequate supervision and worker distraction, contribute to unsafe rigging practices more frequently than technical errors
• Certified riggers and signalpersons were consistently viewed by peers as more effective than non-certified personnel, suggesting standardized training and certification can help establish greater consistency across the workforce

“The report confirms the importance of rigging and signaling in conducting a safe lift and highlights the fact that inconsistency in training and standardization in these key roles is increasing the risks for those working with cranes on the jobsite”, said T.J. Cantwell, NCCCO Foundation Executive Director.

“It’s clear implementing the recommendations in the report such as reinforcing the use of standard signals, supporting certification requirements for riggers and signalpersons, and investing in site-level supervisor training could make a significant impact on crane safety,” Mr. Cantwell added.

The study establishes a baseline understanding of current rigging and signaling practices.

The NCCCO Foundation is also hosting a webinar on September 29, 2026, to discuss the research findings and recommendations. It will also include industry speakers from Morrow Equipment who will provide ideas and tips for making rigging and signaling safety a priority.  Anyone interested in attending can register free for the webinar at https://bit.ly/stateofrigandsigwebinar.

The State of Rigging and Signaling in Crane Operations and other safety research reports are available to download at https://www.ncccofoundation.org/research/safety/