ASME B30.30-2023 Guide: On-Site Rigger and Signal Person Qualification Rules

What is ASME B30.30 and Why Do You Need It On Site?

If you manage lifting operations on an industrial, commercial, or infrastructure project, you know the biggest risks aren’t always the cranes themselves—they’re the people directing them. The ASME B30.30-2023 standard provides the definitive, on-site framework for qualifying and managing riggers and signal persons. Its core purpose is to close a critical operational gap: ensuring every individual controlling a load or directing a crane operator is demonstrably competent through a standardized, documented process. For field engineers and construction managers, this isn’t just a safety manual; it’s your primary tool for mitigating human error, avoiding costly incidents, and satisfying inspector audits for personnel competency.

On a real project, you encounter B30.30 when a new subcontractor’s crew arrives, when planning daily lifts, or during a surprise site visit from a client’s safety representative. It moves the question from “Is that person experienced?” to “Can you show me their qualification records?” This standard transforms subjective judgment into objective, verifiable on-site compliance.

The On-Site Problems B30.30 Solves

Before standards like B30.30, qualification was often based on vague claims of experience, leading to inconsistent and dangerous practices. This standard solves critical on-site problems:

* Eliminating Inconsistent Competency Standards: It prevents a “qualified” rigger on one site from being dangerously unqualified on another by establishing uniform, minimum requirements.
* Reducing Communication Failures: By defining clear, standardized hand and voice signals, it directly targets miscommunication between signal persons and operators—a leading cause of lifting incidents.
* Preventing Unauthorized Personnel from Directing Lifts: It provides the enforceable criteria to stop unqualified workers from stepping in to “help” with a lift, a common but high-risk shortcut.
* Avoiding Project Delays and Liability: Non-compliance can lead to work stoppages by regulatory bodies (like OSHA in the US, which references ASME standards), voided insurance, and severe liability in the event of an accident.

B30.30 is critically adopted for any project involving cranes and hoists across North America and is increasingly referenced globally in regions like the Middle East and Asia-Pacific for major infrastructure and energy projects. It is mandatory wherever the project specifications or local regulations invoke ASME B30 standards.

Core On-Site Rules: Translating Requirements into Field Action

B30.30 breaks down into two parallel qualification tracks: one for Riggers and one for Signal Persons. The on-site implementation differs significantly from simply checking a training card.

1. Qualification vs. Certification: A Critical Distinction
The standard mandates qualification by the employer. This is not a generic, off-the-shelf certification. Your company must own the process. You must:
* Define Written Procedures: Establish how you will evaluate knowledge and performance.
* Designate a Qualified Evaluator: Appoint a person (meeting specific experience criteria) to conduct evaluations.
* Maintain Individual Records: Keep a dossier for each qualified individual, including evaluation dates, results, and any limitations.

2. Step-by-Step On-Site Implementation for Riggers
A qualified rigger is responsible for hooking, unhooking, and guiding the load, and selecting the rigging gear. Your on-site process must verify:
* Knowledge Evaluation: Test understanding of load dynamics (center of gravity, load weight), rigging hardware inspection criteria, hitch configurations, and load control techniques.
Performance Evaluation: The candidate must demonstrate* skills on-site or in a controlled setting, including:
* Performing a pre-use inspection of slings, hardware, and below-the-hook devices.
* Selecting appropriate rigging for a given load.
* Applying correct hitches (e.g., vertical, choker, basket).
* Safely attaching and detaching loads.

3. Step-by-Step On-Site Implementation for Signal Persons
A qualified signal person is the sole designated communicator with the operator. Your evaluation must confirm:
* Knowledge Evaluation: Test knowledge of standard hand signals, voice communication protocols, crane operations and limitations, and basic load dynamics.
* Performance Evaluation: The candidate must demonstrate proficiency in:
* Using both standard hand signals and voice signals (with radios) clearly and precisely.
* Maintaining visual contact with the operator and the load.
* Properly positioning themselves for optimal visibility.
* Effectively communicating stop and emergency signals.

Unique On-Site Verification Point: The “Qualified Evaluator”
A key operational control in B30.30 is the requirement for the evaluator themselves to be qualified. You cannot have an unqualified person evaluating others. The evaluator must have demonstrated knowledge of the standard, the evaluation procedures, and practical experience in rigging/signaling. An on-site inspector will often ask to see the credentials of your designated evaluator as a first check of your program’s validity.

Regulatory Context and On-Site Compliance Workflow

B30.30 is integrated into the enforceable regulatory framework in many jurisdictions. In the United States, OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1926.1428) mandate the qualification of signal persons and riggers and directly recognize compliance with ASME B30.30 as meeting their requirements.

On-Site Compliance Documentation:
Your records are your proof. For each qualified individual, maintain a file containing:
1. The individual’s name.
2. The specific evaluation date.
3. The name and credentials of the Qualified Evaluator.
4. Proof of passed knowledge and performance evaluations.
5. Any specific equipment or condition limitations (e.g., “qualified on mobile cranes only”).
These documents must be available on-site for audit by OSHA, client safety officers, or insurance inspectors. They are also critical for project handover, demonstrating due diligence in personnel management.

Comparison with Regional Practices:
Unlike some regional guidelines that may blend rigger and signal person roles or accept informal on-the-job training, B30.30 formally separates the functions and demands documented, structured evaluation. It is more prescriptive than some general industry guidelines but provides a clearer, more defensible compliance path.

Target Professionals and Risks of Non-Compliance

Who Uses This On-Site:
* Construction Managers & Site Superintendents: To verify subcontractor crew qualifications during pre-mobilization meetings and daily toolbox talks.
* Lifting Supervisors & Crane Coordinators: To plan lifts and assign only qualified personnel to critical roles.
* On-Site Safety Officers & Inspectors: To conduct compliance audits and observe lifts.
* Project Engineers: To ensure qualification requirements are written into lift plans and subcontracts.
* Foremen & Crew Leads: To manage their teams daily and prevent unqualified workers from undertaking controlled tasks.

On-Site Risks of Ignoring B30.30:
* Catastrophic Safety Incidents: Dropped loads, struck-by hazards, and structural collapses often trace back to rigging or signaling errors.
* Immediate Work Stoppage: An OSHA inspector finding unqualified personnel directing a crane can issue a citation and shut down all lifting operations until compliance is proven.
* Severe Financial Liability: Accident investigations will scrutinize qualification records. Absent records can lead to gross negligence claims, massive fines, and invalidated insurance.
* Costly Rework and Delay: An improperly rigged load can damage the load itself, the crane, or surrounding structures, leading to expensive repairs and schedule impacts.

Real-World On-Site Scenario

A construction supervisor at a power plant expansion is preparing for a critical lift of a prefabricated pipe rack. The lift plan, referencing B30.30, specifies a qualified signal person and two qualified riggers. During the pre-lift meeting, the supervisor:
1. Verifies Qualifications: Asks to see the qualification documents for the assigned crew members, checking that the evaluations are current and conducted by a qualified evaluator.
2. Confirms Roles: Reiterates that only the designated signal person will communicate with the operator and that the riggers are responsible for the hook-up and initial guide.
3. Reviews Signals: Has the signal person demonstrate the specific hand signals that will be used for the lift’s swing, boom, and travel movements.

This process, dictated by B30.30’s framework, turns a routine lift into a controlled, compliant operation with clear accountability.

Common On-Site Misconceptions

1. “A Crane Operator Certification Covers Signaling.” FALSE. The operator’s certification is separate. B30.30 is explicit: the signal person requires their own distinct qualification based on evaluation by their employer. The operator must only take directions from this designated, qualified individual.
2. “Once Qualified, Always Qualified.” FALSE. B30.30 requires requalification if there is a reason to doubt an individual’s competency (e.g., they are observed making unsafe choices) or if they have not used the relevant skills for an extended period (as defined by the employer’s policy). Annual re-evaluation is a common and prudent on-site practice.
3. “Our Corporate Training Program is Enough.” It might be a good start, but unless your program includes a documented, practical performance evaluation conducted by a qualified evaluator, it does not fully satisfy the standard. The on-site demonstration of skill is non-negotiable.