3316.9 Rigging

The hoisting or lowering of any suspended article on the outside of any building in the city shall be performed by or under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed rigger.

The individual supervising the hoisting or lowering in accordance with Section 3316.9.1 shall:

1. Be present at the site during all times articles are being rigged for hoisting or lowering or are being hoisted or lowered;
2. Have the ability to communicate with all individuals involved with such work; and
3. Be in the line of sight of either the:
   1. Attaching operation;
   2. Detaching operation, or
   3. The hoisting equipment.

All members of the rigging crew engaged in the hoisting or lowering of any suspended article on the outside of any building in the city, the supervisor of such individuals, and signalpersons communicating with such individuals, shall either:

1. Possess a valid certification for both rigging and signaling. The certification shall be acceptable to the commissioner and issued by a rigging and signaling certification program that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The certification shall be valid for a term of no more than five years before it has to be renewed and shall cover areas including, but not limited to, the inspection and use of rigging hardware, basic rigging techniques, signaling, and hazards associated with rigging. The certification for a supervisor shall, in addition to the foregoing, include calculations and problem solving with respect to rigging; or
2. Have completed an initial department-approved training course, and four years following the completion of the initial training course, and every four years thereafter, complete a department-approved refresher course. The courses shall be in accordance with the following:
   1. The initial training course for members of the rigging crew, including signalpersons communicating with such crew, shall be, at a minimum, 16 hours long, with the refresher course, at a minimum, 8 hours long. The initial training course for a supervisor shall be, at a minimum, 32 hours long, with the refresher course, at a minimum, 16 hours long.
   2. The training course shall be conducted by a registered New York State Department of Labor apprenticeship training program or by an educational institution or school chartered, licensed or registered by the New York State Department of Education or by a provider approved by the department and presented by an instructor acceptable to the commissioner.
   3. Training courses and refresher courses shall cover areas including, but not limited to, the inspection and use of rigging hardware, basic rigging techniques, signaling, and hazards associated with rigging. The training course and refresher course for a supervisor shall, in addition to the foregoing, include calculations and problem solving with respect to rigging. The training course and refresher course, both for crew members and supervisors, shall include a significant portion of hands on training.
   4. Successful completion of the initial training course and refresher course shall be based upon passage of a written and a practical exam.
   5. Successful completion of the initial training course and refresher course shall be evidenced by a wallet size certificate card issued by the training provider and acceptable to the commissioner. Such certificate card shall be readily available to the commissioner upon request and shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:
      1. The name of the individual to whom it was issued;
      2. A photograph of the individual to whom it was issued; and
      3. Any other information required pursuant to rules promulgated by the commissioner for a department approved training course.
   6. For individuals who fail to complete the required refresher course within any 4 year period, a refresher course shall be considered timely if completed within 1 year after the expiration date of the last previously completed initial or refresher course. During such period, such individual shall not perform or supervise any activity for which the lapsed training is required to perform or supervise such activity until such individual has successfully completed such refresher course. Where more than 1 year has lapsed, such individual shall be required to successfully recomplete the initial training course.

Any person using industrial rope access methods to descend or ascend outside a building, including the individual supervising such, must be certified by either the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians ("SPRAT") or the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association ("IRATA"), or an equivalent acceptable to the department. Only hand tools, securely attached to a person, may be carried by such person during the use of industrial rope access methods. Any other tools or equipment must be separately hoisted or lowered.