Personnel who require to be deemed competent must possess and be able to demonstrate a satisfactory level of practical skill and theoretical knowledge to carry out a given task safely.
Personnel can achieve competence by completing training and assessment, which documents evidence about their achievements, skills, knowledge and abilities.

Step Change in Safety, the UK based partnership with the remit to make the UK the safest Oil and Gas Exploration and Production province in the world, offers the industry the following guidance in how to achieve competence.

Stage 1 Initial training and assessment
Stage 2 Supervised training in the workplace
Stage 3 Workplace assessment of competency
Stage 4 Ongoing performance advancement

NSL can offer clients two options for achieving competence in lifting operations.

Option 1

In September 2002, NSL in association with the UK government award body, EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL) created competence programmes designed specifically for personnel required to carry out lifting operations (Riggers) and those required to certify and inspect lifting equipment (Lifting Equipment Inspectors).

Both our programmes begin with a training course with delegates receiving a certificate of training upon successful completion.

Delegates now have the option to proceed with the completion of a competence portfolio. The portfolio is used to record their activities and experience, in the workplace, and used as evidence of their competence (tasks recorded must be witnessed and when completed should be submitted for assessment and verification by NSL and EAL).

Once satisfactorily completed, EAL issue the delegate with a certificate of competence.
The competence certificate is valid for two years, after which time the delegate should be re-assessed to confirm competence is being maintained and / or progress to the next level.
NSL currently offer competence programmes in the following subjects and levels:

Rigging & Lifting Level 1

Aimed at Technicians, Banksman / Slingers and Load Handlers who are required to perform Routine and Simple lifts but may also participate in Complicated and Complex lifts under supervision.

Rigging & Lifting Level 2

Aimed at Riggers and Deck Foremen who are required to perform Routine, Simple, Complicated and Complex lifting operations, it is also aimed at those responsible for the planning and safe execution of lifting operations.

Advanced Rigging & Lifting Level 3 | Technical Support

Aimed at Deck Foremen, Lifting Supervisors involved in de-commissioning, subsea and complex lifting operations

Option 2

The second option is to use one of our training and competence programmes that have been specifically designed for personnel carrying out lifting operations in the following industries:

• Drilling
• Marine
• Shore base shipping operations
• Overseas construction projects

Each programme will require an initial consultation period, which produces the training and competence programmes staged structure, documentation and tools, for example:

• Initial training requirements, which can be completed either onsite or at one of our training centres
• Performance activity logbooks, which are controlled and monitored by the client
• Competence assessment requirements, carried out internally or externally
• Refresher / reassessment criteria

The training competence programme also lists an employee’s roles and responsibilities as they progress through the programme and a list of complementary eLearning courses.

Personnel new to lifting operations must take a progressive route to achieving competence, i.e. starting with Level 1, reflecting their inexperience in this subject. Level 2, is designed to record and assess existing knowledge and experience.

Therefore, beginners or less experienced personnel MUST complete Level 1 first and then gain the necessary experience over two years before they attempt Level 2.

Experienced personnel wishing to enrol directly onto Level 2 without going through 1 will be required to provide evidence that they have at least 3 years experience working full time in rigging and lifting operations.

Personnel who aspire to further their learning and achieve level 3 must complete level 2, gain a further two years experience in lifting operations and complete / record a further six complicated / complex portfolio logs before entry onto this level.

The portfolio contains a list of tasks that have to be completed, on three separate occasions by the delegate, to provide evidence of competence in the workplace when operating Lifting Equipment or otherwise involved in Rigging & Lifting or Crane Operation activities.

The portfolio tasks are divided into four sections, A, B, C and D. The delegate must complete two out of the three sections, which are chosen, by the delegate, depending on the type of lifting operation they are required to carry out in the workplace.

Tasks are recorded using the NSL lifting plan format, which the delegate has already become familiar with during the rigging and lifting training course.

Section A: Is compulsory and includes; following a lifting plan (Level 1), planning a lifting operation (Level 2), risk assessment, toolbox talks, selection of equipment, pre-use examination of lifting equipment, slinging the load etc. The delegates can then choose either B or C depending on their scope of work.
Section B: Is aimed at the delegate who works mostly with lifting machines such as chain hoists, lever hoists, beam trolleys and tasks include erecting / installing / using lifting appliances, lifting in confined space and cross hauling a load etc.
Section C: Is aimed at the delegate who works mainly with cranes and tasks that include the inspection and preparation of loads / cargo for lifting, performs lifts using a crane with load unsighted by crane operator, handling tubulars, bundles and pipes etc.
Section D: Is aimed at the delegate who works underwater, i.e. divers. The performance criteria reflects the specific type of work they will encounter and includes additional safety precautions and special lifting equipment such as lift bags.

At the end of the NSL training course, delegates are issued with an NSL CERTIFICATE OF TRAINING and a log book which contains specific performance criteria. The certificate of training entitles them to continue rigging and lifting in the workplace albeit under supervision. The log book is to be used to record their rigging and lifting activities in the work place as evidence of their competence. The tasks recorded in the log book must be witnessed and signed off preferably by a qualified skills assessor or by a nominated company representative who is in a supervisory position and has the relevant knowledge and experience to confirm that the work has been carried out safely and that the completed task form accurately describes the way the job was carried out. The completed log book will then be assessed and verified by NSL prior to the award of the CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE, awarded by EAL. This certificate will be valid for two years after which time the candidate must be re-assessed to confirm that competence is being maintained.

EAL (EMTA Awards Ltd) are a QCA / SQA approved Awarding Body and are the UK’s leading awarding body for engineering National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and their Scottish equivalents (SVQs).

Due to the extensive range of lifting equipment, the training and competence in this programme has been separated into six modules to allow prospective inspectors to qualify in one subject at a time and gradually build up their knowledge, experience and therefore competence.
Clients and inspectors may choose any course, in any order, if only training is required. However, if the competence portfolio route is required then the first module must be completed before any other module can be attempted.

The programme is divided into the following modules:

Module 1: General Lifting Equipment
Module 2: Winches and Powered Hoists
Module 3: Pedestal and Mobile Cranes
Module 4: Overhead Travelling Cranes, Runway Beams and Swing Jibs
Module 5: Forklift Trucks and Stackers
Module 6: Containers and CCU’s