Construction projects
Steel erection, precast and tilt-up, plant installation and the daily lifts on a commercial or industrial build.
Trade labour hire · Sydney & NSW
Rigger & dogman labour hire in Sydney
Dogmen who can sling a load, judge its weight and talk a crane blind. Riggers who can plan the lift, set the gear and put steel, plant and precast exactly where it has to go.
The trade
What our riggers and dogmen do on Sydney sites
Nothing heavy moves on a Sydney site without a dogman or a rigger. On a commercial build near Parramatta, that is a dogman slinging and directing every lift to the deck. On a shutdown at a plant in Western Sydney, it is a rigger setting chain blocks and beam clamps to pull a gearbox out of a space the crane cannot reach. On a precast or steel erection job around the airport precinct, it is an intermediate or advanced rigger planning a dual-crane lift, selecting the gear, checking the tags and running the exclusion zone. In the Hunter or at Cadia, it is a rigger on a shutdown crew moving liners, screens and pumps.
We supply dogmen and riggers to builders, steel erectors, crane hire companies, mechanical contractors and heavy industry across Sydney and NSW, as individuals or as a complete crane crew with one of our crane operators.
- Dogmen (DG): slinging, load estimation, hitch selection and directing cranes by radio, whistle and hand signals.
- Basic riggers (RB): structural steel, precast and tilt-up, hoists, platforms and everything a dogman does.
- Intermediate riggers (RI): cranes, conveyors and plant rigging, demolition, dual lifts, tilt slabs.
- Advanced riggers (RA): gin poles, shear legs, flying foxes, guyed derricks and suspended scaffolds.
Licences & tickets
Who we supply
From a dogman on a delivery to an advanced rigger on a complex lift, matched to the job and verified before they start.
HRWLDogging (DG)Slinging, load estimation and directing crane movements when the operator cannot see the load.
HRWLBasic rigging (RB)Structural steel, precast, tilt-up, hoists, cantilevered platforms and safety nets.
HRWLIntermediate rigging (RI)Rigging of cranes, conveyors and plant, dual lifts, demolition and tilt slabs.
HRWLAdvanced rigging (RA)Gin poles, shear legs, flying foxes, guyed derricks and suspended scaffolds.
CompetencyGear inspection & lift plansTags, WLL and discard criteria on slings and shackles; reading and executing lift plans.
Site ticketsHeights, EWP, confined spaceWhite Card as standard; Working at Heights, EWP and Confined Space for plant and shutdown work.
The Smart Standard
How we test riggers and dogmen
The rigging test is practical and numerical. Sling angle maths: the load on each leg at 60, 90 and 120 degrees, and why the wide angle is the dangerous one. Estimating a load's weight from its dimensions and material. Choosing a hitch, vertical, choke or basket, and knowing the derating that comes with it. Then a table of mixed slings, shackles and chain blocks with worn, untagged and damaged gear planted in it, and they have to find every piece.
Then a lift plan with a mistake in it, which they need to spot. Then comms: direct a simulated lift by hand signals and radio, cleanly, with tag lines and an exclusion zone. We talk to a supervisor from their last site. Then the rest of The Smart Standard.
- 01
Sling angles and load estimation
Leg loads at 60, 90 and 120 degrees; weight from dimensions and material.
- 02
Gear inspection table
Worn, untagged and damaged gear planted among the good; all of it has to be found.
- 03
Lift plan and comms
A flawed lift plan to catch, then a simulated lift directed by signals and radio.
- 04
The rest of the standard
Licence verification, references, VEVO, National Police Check, medical, psychometric profile and our safety induction.
Engagements
How Sydney sites use our riggers
Crane crews
Operator plus dogman or rigger, inducted together, for crane hire companies and sites.
Shutdowns
Mechanical rigging to pull gearboxes, pumps, screens and liners in tight plant where cranes cannot reach.
Breakdown lifts
An urgent changeout that needs a rigger who can plan it safely at short notice.
Shift cover
Night shift, weekend and leave cover without putting an unlicensed hand on the load.
Long-term & temp-to-perm
A rigger embedded in your crew, with the option to make it permanent.
Industries
Where the lifting is
Also common: plant installs in manufacturing, utility and rail projects in infrastructure & utilities, and racking and conveyor installs in logistics & warehousing.
Questions
Rigger & dogman hire FAQs
What is the difference between a dogman and a rigger?
A dogman (DG) slings loads and directs the crane. A rigger holds a higher-level licence (RB, RI or RA) that includes dogging and adds structural steel, precast, plant rigging, dual lifts and, at advanced level, gin poles, derricks and suspended scaffolds. If your job is slinging and directing, a dogman is right. If it involves erecting steel or rigging plant, you need a rigger.
Can you supply a complete crane crew?
Yes. A licensed crane operator plus dogman or rigger, inducted together and used to working with each other. We supply crews to builders and to crane hire companies.
Do they bring their own rigging gear?
Hand tools and PPE, yes. Slings, shackles, chain blocks and lifting gear are normally site or crane hire supplied so they sit in your tagging and inspection system. If you want a rigger with their own tagged kit, ask and we will match.
How do you know they can actually rig, not just hold a ticket?
Sling angle maths, load estimation, a gear inspection table with faulty items planted in it, a lift plan with a deliberate error and a simulated lift directed by signals and radio. Then references from their last site. The licence proves they were trained; the test proves they can do it.
Are their heights and EWP tickets current?
We verify every ticket against the issuing body before a worker starts and track expiry dates, so a lapsed Working at Heights or EWP ticket never reaches your gate.
Do you supply riggers for mine sites and regional NSW?
Yes. Our riggers work shutdowns in the Hunter and at regional operations such as Cadia. Site inductions, fitness-for-work requirements, travel and accommodation are agreed with you before mobilisation.
Related trades
Often hired with riggers
Ready when you are
Let's build.
Tell us the trade, the site and the start date. We'll do the rest.