Why Rigging Work Creates Unique Hand Safety Challenges
Rigging operations are essential to industries such as oil & gas, offshore, marine, construction, ports, shipyards, and heavy manufacturing. Every day, riggers handle wire ropes, lifting slings, shackles, hooks, chains, and lifting accessories to move heavy loads safely and efficiently.
While much attention is given to load capacities, lifting plans, and equipment inspections, one area often overlooked is hand protection during rigging operations.
Unlike general material handling, rigging involves direct, sustained interaction with lifting equipment and heavy components. A worker connecting a single sling may encounter sharp wire strands, abrasive surfaces, heavy hardware, sudden equipment movement, and wet or oily conditions — all at once. This combination makes rigging one of the most demanding applications for hand protection.
Hand Injuries During Rigging Operations
Workers regularly interact with wire ropes, steel cables, chain slings, synthetic slings, shackles, hooks, and turnbuckles. Below are the four most common injury mechanisms.
Cut Injuries from Wire Rope
Wire ropes develop broken strands, sharp edges, and frayed sections over time. Workers handling damaged cable can suffer deep lacerations and puncture injuries even from a brief contact.
Abrasion Injuries
Repeated handling of wire ropes, chains, synthetic slings, and steel structures causes progressive skin damage. Without protection, repeated contact leads to lasting discomfort and reduced grip capability.
Impact Injuries
Heavy shackles, hooks, chain links, and rigging hardware frequently contact knuckles, fingers, and the back of the hand — especially during lifting preparation and load securing.
Grip-Related Incidents
Rain, saltwater, oil, and grease reduce grip reliability. Poor grip increases the likelihood of dropped equipment and handling errors in high-consequence environments.
Industries Where Rigging Hand Injuries Commonly Occur
Rigging hand hazards are present wherever lifting and material handling operations run. The following sectors see the highest frequency of rigging-related hand injuries.
What Safety Managers Should Look for in Rigging Gloves
Selecting gloves for rigging work requires more than choosing general-purpose PPE. Below is a structured evaluation framework for procurement teams and EHS managers.
| Criteria | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| High Cut Resistance | Wire ropes and steel cables create significant laceration hazards. ANSI A-level ratings guide procurement decisions. |
| Impact Protection | Back-of-hand protection reduces injury severity when shackles or hardware make contact. |
| Grip Performance | Wet, oily, and marine environments demand reliable grip even under challenging conditions. |
| Durability | Rigging tasks place constant stress on gloves. Durable construction reduces replacement frequency and cost. |
| Dexterity | Workers must secure hardware, connect slings, and handle equipment with precision. Protection should not compromise usability. |
One of the biggest challenges in rigging is that workers rarely face a single hazard. This is why many organisations prefer gloves that address multiple hazard types — cut, impact, abrasion, and grip — rather than a single protection feature.
KONG Deck Crew KDC5: Designed for Demanding Rigging Applications
The KONG Deck Crew KDC5 has become a preferred choice in offshore, marine, and industrial environments where workers face simultaneous cut and impact hazards. Designed for demanding material handling applications, the KDC5 addresses the full hazard profile encountered during rigging operations.
KONG Deck Crew KDC5
Multi-hazard protection for offshore, marine, and industrial rigging environments. Combines ANSI-rated cut resistance with engineered impact protection and reinforced palm durability.
Key Application Areas
- Wire rope and steel cable handling
- Deck and offshore rigging operations
- Cargo loading and unloading
- Shackle and lifting hardware work
- Equipment maintenance around lifting systems
Common Questions from Safety and Procurement Teams
Rigging gloves help protect workers handling wire ropes, slings, chains, shackles, and lifting equipment across offshore, marine, and industrial environments.
Wire ropes and steel cables can develop sharp, broken strands capable of causing deep cuts and puncture injuries. High cut resistance ratings such as ANSI A7 significantly reduce this risk.
Yes. Rigging hardware and lifting accessories frequently create impact hazards during routine operations. Back-of-hand protection helps reduce injury severity when contact occurs.
Oil & gas, offshore, marine, ports and terminals, construction, mining, and industrial manufacturing are the primary sectors.
Yes. The KDC5 combines ANSI A7 cut resistance with ANSI Impact Level 2 protection and a reinforced palm, making it purpose-built for demanding rigging and material handling environments.