How is the South African rigger trade test structured and how long does it take?

The rigger trade test is a two-day external summative assessment at a NAMB-accredited trade test centre, combining practical rigging and slinging tasks with a knowledge assessment. It is not a fixed multiple-choice paper, so the question count is not published. You must pass every module to be declared competent.

What score do I need to pass the rigger trade test?

The trade test is module-based and you must pass all modules to qualify; the typical pass standard for the knowledge components is 60%. Because both practical and theory elements are assessed, balanced preparation across rigging skills and underpinning theory is essential.

Who can write the rigger trade test in South Africa?

Candidates who have completed a registered rigger learnership or apprenticeship, or who qualify through recognition of prior learning (RPL) work experience, may be entered by an accredited trade test centre. N2 or equivalent trade theory is the usual underpinning knowledge.

What does the rigger trade test cover?

It covers lifting principles and load calculations, slings, ropes and chains, cranes and lifting gear, hand signals and communication, rigging plans and lift planning, and the Driven Machinery Regulation 18 of the OHS Act, together with rigging safety and site practice.

Which South African regulations apply to rigging and lifting?

Driven Machinery Regulation 18 (DMR 18) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act governs lifting machines and lifting tackle. It sets factors of safety (chain 4, steel-wire rope 5, fibre rope 10), six-monthly competent-person examinations, registers, SWL marking and proof-load testing.

Is this free rigger trade test practice useful for the real test?

Yes. Our 100 practice questions cover the underpinning trade theory tested in the knowledge components, with a teaching explanation for every answer plus a free daily AI tutor. All content is free forever and updated for 2026. The practical rigging tasks must still be prepared with hands-on training.

All Practice Exams

100+ Free Rigger Trade Test Practice Questions

South Africa Artisan Trade Test — Rigger (QCTO/NAMB) practice questions are available now; exam metadata is being verified.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More South Africa Artisan Trade Tests

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Rigger Trade Test Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

2 days

External Trade Test

QCTO/NAMB

60%

Typical Pass Standard

NAMB

DMR 18

Governing Regulation

OHS Act

Chain 4 / Wire 5 / Fibre 10

Factors of Safety

DMR 18

6 months

Tackle Examination Interval

DMR 18

The South African Rigger artisan trade test is the QCTO/NAMB designated-trade assessment that confirms a candidate is a competent rigger. It is a two-day external summative trade test at a NAMB-accredited centre, combining practical rigging and slinging with a knowledge assessment, and every module must be passed (the trade-test pass standard is typically 60%). Because it is practical and not a fixed multiple-choice paper, the question count is not published. The underpinning theory spans lifting principles and load calculations, slings/ropes/chains, cranes and lifting gear, hand signals and communication, rigging plans, and Driven Machinery Regulation 18 of the OHS Act. This free prep includes 100 research-based practice questions with explanations and an AI tutor.

Sample Rigger Trade Test Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Rigger Trade Test exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the Driven Machinery Regulations (DMR 18), what is the minimum factor of safety required for a chain used as lifting tackle relative to its safe working load?

A.4

B.5

C.8

D.10

Explanation: DMR 18 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires chains to have a factor of safety of at least 4 relative to the safe working load. Steel-wire ropes require at least 5 and fibre ropes at least 10. Knowing each safety factor by component type is core South African rigging law.

2DMR 18 requires that steel-wire rope used as lifting tackle has a minimum factor of safety, relative to the safe working load, of at least:

A.3

B.4

C.5

D.10

Explanation: Under DMR 18, steel-wire ropes must have a factor of safety of at least 5 with regard to the safe working load. This means the minimum breaking load of the rope must be at least five times the SWL. Fibre ropes require 10 because of their lower reliability and greater susceptibility to damage.

3A load of 2 000 kg is lifted with a two-leg sling where each leg makes an included angle so that the tension factor per leg is 1,0 (legs vertical). What is the approximate tension in each leg?

A.500 kg

B.1 000 kg

C.2 000 kg

D.4 000 kg

Explanation: With two vertical legs sharing the load equally and no angle, each leg carries half the load: 2 000 kg ÷ 2 = 1 000 kg. As the legs spread and the included angle increases, the tension factor rises above 1,0 and each leg carries more than its even share.

4As the included angle between the legs of a two-leg sling increases, the tension in each leg:

A.Decreases

B.Stays the same

C.Increases

D.Becomes zero

Explanation: Widening the included angle increases the horizontal force component, so the tension in each sling leg increases for the same suspended load. This is why riggers keep included angles below 90 degrees and never exceed 120 degrees. A wider angle can overload slings even though the load mass is unchanged.

5What is the term for the safe working load (SWL) marked on lifting tackle, also called the working load limit?

A.The maximum load the tackle can ever break at

B.The maximum load that may be applied in general service

C.The proof-test load applied during certification

D.The minimum breaking load divided by two

Explanation: The safe working load (SWL), or working load limit (WLL), is the maximum mass that may be applied to the lifting tackle in general service. It is derived by dividing the minimum breaking load by the factor of safety. The SWL must never be exceeded in normal lifting operations.

6A rigger must lift a steel plate measuring 3 m x 2 m x 0,02 m. Using a steel density of 7 850 kg/m3, what is the approximate mass of the plate?

A.471 kg

B.942 kg

C.157 kg

D.1 884 kg

Explanation: Volume = 3 x 2 x 0,02 = 0,12 m3. Mass = volume x density = 0,12 x 7 850 = 942 kg. The value rounds to roughly 471 kg only if you halve it in error; the correct mass is 942 kg, so the closest correct intent here is the calculated figure.

7When estimating the mass of an unknown steel object before a lift, which density value should a rigger use for mild steel?

A.2 700 kg/m3

B.7 850 kg/m3

C.1 000 kg/m3

D.11 340 kg/m3

Explanation: Mild steel has a density of approximately 7 850 kg/m3. Riggers multiply the calculated volume of an object by this density to estimate its mass before selecting tackle. Using the wrong density gives a dangerously incorrect load estimate.

8The centre of gravity of a load is best described as:

A.The geometric centre of the load only

B.The point at which the entire mass of the load may be considered to act

C.The point where the slings are always attached

D.The heaviest visible corner of the load

Explanation: The centre of gravity is the single point through which the whole weight of the load is considered to act. For a stable lift the hook must be positioned directly above the centre of gravity so the load hangs level. For irregular loads the centre of gravity may not coincide with the geometric centre.

9For a load to hang level and stable during a lift, the hook (and crane line) must be positioned:

A.At any convenient corner of the load

B.Directly above the centre of gravity

C.Below the centre of gravity

D.At the lightest end of the load

Explanation: When the hook is directly above the centre of gravity, the load hangs level and does not swing or tip when lifted. If the hook is off to one side of the centre of gravity, the load will tilt or slip as it leaves the ground. Determining the centre of gravity is a key planning step before any lift.

10A single-leg wire-rope sling has a working load limit of 5 tonnes in a straight vertical lift. When the same sling is used in a basket hitch (both ends on the hook, load in the bight, legs vertical), the approximate WLL becomes:

A.2,5 tonnes

B.5 tonnes

C.10 tonnes

D.7 tonnes

Explanation: A basket hitch with vertical legs supports the load on two parts of the sling, approximately doubling the vertical WLL to 10 tonnes. This only applies when the legs are vertical; as the basket legs spread, the capacity reduces by the angle factor. A choke hitch by contrast reduces capacity to about 80 percent of the straight pull.

About the Rigger Trade Test Practice Questions

Verified exam format metadata for South Africa Artisan Trade Test — Rigger (QCTO/NAMB) is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.

100+ Free Rigger Trade Test Practice Questions

Explore More South Africa Artisan Trade Tests

South Africa Artisan Trade Test — Boilermaker

South Africa Artisan Trade Test — Bricklayer

South Africa Artisan Trade Test — Carpenter

South Africa Artisan Trade Test — Diesel Mechanic

South Africa Artisan Trade Test — Electrician

South Africa Artisan Trade Test — Fitter

Key Facts: Rigger Trade Test Exam

Sample Rigger Trade Test Practice Questions

About the Rigger Trade Test Practice Questions