Will AI replace Riggers?

The core of your work stays human. For you, AI is mainly an amplifier.

Task exposure to today's AI

14/100

Low exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Riggers?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 14% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials. The parts that stay human include: Attach loads to rigging to provide support or prepare them for moving, using hand and power tools.; Manipulate rigging lines, hoists, and pulling gear to move or support materials, such as heavy equipment, ships, or theatrical sets.; Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials. 30%

Select gear, such as cables, pulleys, and winches, according to load weights and sizes, facilities, and work schedules. 28%

Attach loads to rigging to provide support or prepare them for moving, using hand and power tools. 10%

Manipulate rigging lines, hoists, and pulling gear to move or support materials, such as heavy equipment, ships, or theatrical sets. 10%

Dismantle and store rigging equipment after use. 10%

Fabricate, set up, and repair rigging, supporting structures, hoists, and pulling gear, using hand and power tools. 10%

+ 8 more tasks (37% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Attach loads to rigging to provide support or prepare them for moving, using hand and power tools.
Manipulate rigging lines, hoists, and pulling gear to move or support materials, such as heavy equipment, ships, or theatrical sets.
Signal or verbally direct workers engaged in hoisting and moving loads to ensure safety of workers and materials.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for troubleshooting and manualsDiagnostic software with AI featuresService and work-order apps

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

AI as a troubleshooting partner

Manuals and error codes explained with AI, checked against the manufacturer.
Step-by-step diagnosis ideas.
Work orders and service reports.

Project

Use AI to explain 10 hoist and crane load-chart entries, sling tags and fault codes you hit on site, verify each against the manufacturer manual, and log any mismatches.

Phase 2

Less paperwork, better records

Service reports from photos and voice notes.
Parts lists and quotes.
History of repairs to spot repeat faults.

Project

Turn voice notes and photos from 10 rigging jobs into AI-drafted gear inspection and rigging reports plus a sling/shackle replacement parts list, and time the saving per report.

Phase 3

Specialise

Diagnostics, electronics and connected equipment.
Predictive maintenance basics.
Train apprentices and colleagues.

Project

Build an AI-assisted wear log of 6 months of sling, wire rope and winch inspections to flag repeat faults, then run a one-hour toolbox talk teaching apprentices the findings.

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