Why Construction Companies Are Ditching 100-Year-Old Training Methods
Construction sites hide more accidents than they report.
Rigging failures happen frequently, but many go unreported. Construction workers account for 20% of all workplace deaths in America. Many trace back to rigging failures that proper training could have prevented.
I spent three months investigating how five companies are changing rigger education. What I found reveals an industry quietly abandoning century-old apprenticeship models for something entirely different.
The old way is breaking down.
Traditional rigger training relied on senior workers passing down knowledge through informal mentoring. No standardized curriculum. No measurable outcomes. Just “watch me and learn.”
It worked when construction moved slower and projects were simpler. Today’s job sites demand precision that gut instinct can’t deliver.
The Certification Revolution
The Crane Institute Certification Bureau leads this transformation with programs spanning basic rigger fundamentals to master-level certification. Their approach breaks rigger skills into measurable competencies.
Their programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on practical exams covering load calculations, center of gravity principles, and equipment inspection protocols.
Companies invest in formal training because certified riggers earn $58,000 median salary with top performers earning over $80,000 annually.
Industrial Training International took a different path entirely. They use virtual reality training systems that simulate dangerous lifting scenarios without real-world consequences.
VR allows riggers to practice dangerous scenarios safely. The technology joins 60% of construction companies now using VR for safety training.
The Resistance
Not everyone embraces this shift.
Old-school superintendents argue that formal training can’t replace years of job site experience. Many believe rigging requires intuition that classroom instruction can’t teach.
Union leaders worry that standardized certification undermines their traditional role in workforce development. Some locals actively discourage members from pursuing outside training.
The resistance is losing ground fast.
Total Equipment Training focuses on speed and efficiency. Their condensed programs deliver essential skills quickly while meeting OSHA and NCCCO requirements.
They target high-turnover companies that need workers trained fast. Oil refineries and power plants regularly send crews through their programs.
Crane Tech takes the opposite approach with progressive skill-building courses. Students start with basic knots and sling angles, then advance through complex multi-crane lifts.
Northwest Crane Service embeds certification within broader safety culture programs. They recognize that individual skills mean nothing without company-wide commitment to proper procedures.
Their holistic approach includes management training, safety audits, and ongoing competency assessments.
The Economics Drive Change
Insurance companies are the real force behind this transformation.
Insurance carriers increasingly favor companies with certified rigger programs. Some refuse coverage entirely for operations relying on informal training.
Rigging accidents carry massive liability costs. Formal training programs cost significantly less than potential accident expenses.
The payoff extends beyond risk reduction.
Certified riggers demonstrate better performance than their uncertified counterparts. They make fewer mistakes, require less supervision, and complete lifts with greater precision.
Project managers increasingly specify certified riggers in bid requirements. Companies without formal training programs lose work.
What This Means
Construction is professionalizing roles that survived on informal knowledge transfer for generations. The change creates winners and losers.
Young workers benefit most. Formal certification provides clear career advancement paths that apprenticeships never offered. They can demonstrate competency through recognized credentials rather than hoping the right foreman notices their skills.
Experienced riggers face a choice: embrace certification or watch opportunities disappear. Many resist, viewing formal training as an insult to their expertise.
Companies that adapt early gain competitive advantages through lower insurance costs, reduced liability, and access to premium projects. Those clinging to old methods get priced out of sophisticated work.
The transformation isn’t complete, but the direction is clear. Within five years, uncertified riggers will be as rare as uncertified electricians or plumbers.
These five companies aren’t just changing how riggers learn. They’re redefining what it means to be skilled in modern construction.