What is Hands Free Load Control?
Hands Free Load Control refers to methods, procedures and tools used to guide, position, steady and align loads without placing hands directly on the load. It is a widely adopted safety approach for reducing hand exposure during lifting, rigging and suspended load operations.
Hands Free Load Control is commonly used across offshore operations, construction projects, ports, fabrication facilities, steel plants, manufacturing sites and heavy industrial lifting environments where workers are exposed to pinch points, crush hazards and line-of-fire risks.
The objective of Hands Free Load Control is to create distance between workers and suspended loads while maintaining safe load guidance, positioning and alignment throughout the lifting operation.
RiggerSafe® supports Hands Free Load Control by helping workers guide and position loads from a safer distance while reducing direct hand contact with moving and suspended loads.
Intended Use
RiggerSafe® is a hand-held load-guiding and positioning tool designed to support Hands Free Load Control by helping workers guide, steady, push, pull, align and position suspended or moving loads from a safer distance.
It is intended to reduce direct hand contact during suspended-load guidance, final positioning, landing, alignment and load-control support tasks.
Not a Lifting Accessory
RiggerSafe® is not a load-bearing lifting accessory.
It must not be used to lift, suspend, support, hold, hang, secure or carry any load.
The crane, hoist, sling, shackle, lifting beam, lifting magnet or other certified lifting accessory must carry the load at all times. RiggerSafe® assists with guidance and positioning only.
Not for Load Support
RiggerSafe® must not be used as:
- A sling
- A shackle
- A lifting hook
- A lifting beam
- A lifting attachment
- A load-bearing device
- A substitute for crane control
- A substitute for a competent lifting plan
- A substitute for approved lifting accessories
EN 13155 / EN 1677 Distinction
Within industrial lifting operations, Hands Free Load Control tools are used to reduce hand exposure around suspended loads. RiggerSafe® falls into this category of load-guiding tools and should not be confused with load-bearing lifting accessories.
Governs non-fixed lifting accessories — the certified components that bear load weight as part of a lifting operation. RiggerSafe® does not fall within this scope, because it does not bear or support load weight at any point.
Governs components for chain slings and similar load-bearing connections. RiggerSafe® is not a sling component and is not assessed, selected or used as one.
RiggerSafe® is selected as a hands-free control tool within the site's lifting plan, risk assessment and safe system of work. It is used to create distance between the worker's hand and the load interface. It is not used to carry or support the load.
HSE / LOLER Context
For UK and European users, RiggerSafe® can support risk-reduction thinking within a properly planned lifting operation.
It does not replace:
- A competent lifting plan
- Site risk assessment
- Statutory inspection
- Manufacturer instructions
- Approved lifting equipment
- Competent supervision
References to HSE, LOLER, EN 13155 or EN 1677 are provided only as safety-context references. They are not claims of approval, certification or legal compliance.
Hands Free Load Control Functions
RiggerSafe® supports the following hand exposure control functions:
- Guiding suspended loads from distance
- Pushing or pulling load edges without direct hand contact
- Supporting final alignment
- Helping keep hands away from landing points
- Reducing reliance on improvised rods, pipes and rebars
- Supporting no-hands suspended-load rules
- Working alongside taglines and other load-control methods
Important Safety Warning
RiggerSafe® tools are load-guiding and positioning tools. They are not load-bearing lifting accessories and must not be used to lift, suspend or support a load.
Deployment Position
A no-hands suspended-load rule only works when the correct tools are available where the lift happens.
RiggerSafe® is positioned as a cost-effective push-pull tool family to support wider deployment across lifting points, fabrication bays, construction areas, ports, offshore sites, steel plants and industrial maintenance operations.
Hands Free Load Control FAQs
What is Hands Free Load Control?
Hands Free Load Control is the practice of guiding and positioning loads without direct hand contact.
Why is Hands Free Load Control important?
It helps reduce pinch-point injuries, crush injuries and hand exposure during lifting operations.
Is RiggerSafe® a Hands Free Load Control tool?
Yes. RiggerSafe® is designed to support Hands Free Load Control by creating distance between workers and suspended loads.
Does Hands Free Load Control replace lifting equipment?
No. It supports safer load guidance but does not replace cranes, slings, shackles or lifting accessories.