The user must inspect rigging gear before use

Why the person closest to the rigging is the one who checks it first

Imagine you’re about to lift a heavy load on a windy morning, gear shining with a bit of dew. TheMachine behind the scene—the rigging—can be a quiet ally or a noisy troublemaker. In the moment before you lift, there’s a simple, real question that can make the difference between a smooth lift and a hazardous mishap: Who inspects the rigging gear before you use it? The short answer, in NAVFAC P-307 terms, is the user—the person actually handling the gear. It’s a rule that saves lives and protects equipment, plain and simple.

The user is the first line of defense

You might be tempted to point fingers up the chain—“The supervisor should have caught that,” or “A certified inspector would have seen the crack.” Sure, those roles matter. Supervisors set the safety tone, and certified inspectors bring a trained eye to complex issues. But the immediate, day-to-day responsibility for inspecting rigging gear before use lies with the user. Why? Because you’re the one who handles the hardware, feels the weight, and notices the subtle tells that someone else might miss—the tiny bend in a shack­le, a stiff latch on a hook, or a frayed strand that only shows when you give the sling a quick tug.

Let me explain it like this: think of pre-use inspection as a check engine light for your lifting setup. You don’t wait for the dashboard to glow; you listen for the sound of a creaky hinge or feel for a wobble you wouldn’t ignore in a quiet moment on the job site. The user’s inspection is the first confirmation that the gear is safe to proceed. It’s not about accusing others; it’s about taking ownership of safety in the moment you need it most.

What to look for when you’re the inspector

You don’t need a full, formal safety briefing every time you loop a chain or open a sling. You need a clear, practical sense of what can go wrong and how to spot it quickly. Here are the kinds of checks that matter, presented in a way that fits into a busy workday:

• Visual condition: Look for obvious wear, deformation, or corrosion. A chain link that’s stretched, a wire rope with broken strands, or a sling that’s kinked or twisted deserves extra scrutiny. If something looks off, don’t gamble—set the gear aside.

• Hardware integrity: Check hooks for cracks, bent pins, or a missing safety latch. Shackles should not have nicks that could reduce load transfer. Any sign of deformation means it’s no longer fit for service.

• Latch and connection points: Make sure latches fully engage and stay closed under load, and that connection points aren’t worn to the point where they can slip or fail.

• Tags and service life: Confirm that the gear has readable tags, the correct rating, and that it’s within its service life, per the equipment’s records. If you can’t read the tag or the numbers don’t line up with the current task, don’t risk it.

• Wear patterns: Look for unusual wear patterns on slings, covers, or eye loops. Fraying on the edges, cracked coatings, or shredded protective sleeves tell you something’s not right.

• Environment and compatibility: Consider exposure to moisture, salt spray, heat, or chemicals. These factors can accelerate wear. Make sure the gear is appropriate for the load, the environment, and the task at hand.

• Operational condition: Check for smooth movement—pins rotating freely, chains moving without binding, and swivels that don’t stick. If something binds or binds early, that’s a red flag.

• Cleanliness and storage: A clean, dry gear is a safer gear. Debris, dirt, or accumulated grease can mask cracks or wear. Also, ensure gear is stored and protected from damage when not in use.

A quick, practical pre-use checklist

If you’re pressed for time (which, let’s be honest, is most days), here’s a compact checklist you can run through in a minute or two:

• Look over the entire rigging assembly for obvious damage.

• Inspect hooks—latches working, no bending or cracking.

• Examine chains, slings, and rope for wear, sharp edges, or broken fibers.

• Check tags and ratings—correct equipment for the load, legible labels.

• Test movement—pins, swivels, and connectors move without unusual resistance.

• Confirm compatibility with the load, environment, and handling method.

• If anything looks questionable, tag it out and remove it from service until a qualified person can assess it.

If you find a defect, what should you do? The short answer: don’t use the gear. Tag it out, report it, and set it aside for examination by the appropriate authority. It’s not you being picky; it’s safety culture in action—preventing a problem before it becomes a problem you can’t fix on the fly.

The roles around rigging safety (and where you fit in)

Yes, others have duties too. Supervisors oversee operations, plan tasks, and ensure the right gear is on hand. Certified inspectors bring a more formal, technical review, especially for critical lifts or complex assemblies. Maintenance crews handle routine care and repair. But as the person who makes contact with the rigging every day, you are the first to sense something off, the one who might notice a subtle crack that a photo or a tag can’t capture.

This is often where a practical, “small habits make big safety gains” mindset pays off. It’s not about proving you’re perfect; it’s about building a reliable routine that keeps people safe and keeps the job moving. And yes, that means speaking up when something looks off, even if it’s a minor scratch or a suspicious ding that you can’t quite explain away.

A few real-world tangents you’ll recognize

Because rigging work isn’t conducted in a sterile lab—it’s out on the yard, on a pier, or inside a maintenance shop—your checks need to be adaptable. Weather can bite. Salt air and humidity can accelerate corrosion on metal parts. In a hot sun, some materials expand; in a cold wind, others become stiff. Your eyes learn to read those subtle shifts. This is where NAVFAC P-307-type guidelines become helpful not as a rigid rulebook, but as a shared language that teams use to stay aligned when the wind picks up or the gear gets swapped between crews.

Another small but powerful habit: communicate clearly. If you find a questionable piece of gear, describe what you saw, where it’s located, and why it alarms you. A simple note to your supervisor or the maintenance crew can save someone a dangerous surprise later. And yes, it can feel awkward to speak up—humans don’t love being the squeaky wheel—but safety thrives on honest, timely communication.

When inspection becomes more than a checkbox

Pre-use inspection isn’t just a one-and-done action; it’s a habit that underpins a broader safety culture. In a culture that values safety, people expect to take a moment before lifting, not only to comply with a rule but to honor the effort everyone has put into staying safe. You’ll notice a vibe shift when teams treat every piece of rigging as something you don’t just use, but respect. The gear isn’t a disposable prop; it’s a partner you’re negotiating with—one that can hurt you if you don’t listen.

A compact, practical mindset for students and newcomers

If you’re new to the NAVFAC P-307 framework or you’re brushing up on your field skills, keep these ideas in mind:

• You are the first line of defense before any lift. Your eyes, your hands, and your decision to set gear aside matter.

• A quick, calm inspection beats a rushed lift every time. Rushing leads to oversight, and oversight leads to accidents.

• When in doubt, take the extra minute to verify. It’s rarely wasted time.

• Documentation is part of safety. Tag out, report, and keep clear records of gear condition and use.

• Communication builds trust on the job site. If a piece of gear looks off, tell someone who can take action.

A closing thought that sticks

The simplest truth behind rigging safety is that good practices start with us—the people who move the gear, make the connections, and decide whether the load goes up or stays on the ground. The user’s pre-use inspection isn’t a tedious formality; it’s the moment you choose to honor the lives and livelihoods of the people around you. It’s the moment you decide that a routine check is worth more than a risk-free feeling you get from ignoring a crack, a bend, or a mislabel.

So, next time you’re getting ready to lift something, pause for a breath, give the rigging a good once-over, and ask yourself: is everything as it should be? If the answer is yes, go ahead with confidence. If there’s any doubt, tag it out and make the call to have it cleared. That’s how a team stays safe, productive, and trustworthy—one careful inspection at a time.

A final note on the safety rhythm

Safety isn’t a shield you wear once and forget. It’s a rhythm you feel—the cadence of checks, the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you’ve done your due diligence, and the steady trust you help build within your crew. You won’t always get a roaring payoff, but you’ll get something quieter and more valuable: fewer near-misses, fewer injuries, and fewer interruptions to the work you actually came to do.

If you’re digging into NAVFAC P-307 content, you’re already on a path that values practical knowledge, a careful hand, and a shared responsibility. Remember: the user is the one who inspects before use. That isn’t just a rule—it’s a promise you make to yourself, your teammates, and the people who rely on the gear you move. And that promise, kept day after day, keeps every lift safer and every job closer to completion.