Role & Responsibilities of a Dogger in Load Lifting
Unveiling the Dogger’s World in Australian Load Lifting
As dawn breaks over the Melbourne skyline, a very special routine is about to begin at one busy construction site. At the nerve centre of this choreographed dance between man and machine is one individual: Kylie, the dogger.
With a focused gaze, Kylie commences the day commanding her crucial task in the logistics chain. Kylie’s irreplaceable role underpins the operational success of the site, safety of the personnel, and indeed the progress of the whole industry. Her role is that of a dogger in load lifting, an often unsung hero in the Australian construction industry.
Before we delve into the responsibilities and intricacies of the job, let’s appreciate the backdrop against which we view the dogger’s work. The construction industry is a strategic cornerstone of Australia’s economy, contributing AUD 202.9 billion to the nation’s GDP in 2019-20, accounting for 9.72% of the total¹. It also employs over a million Australians, making it the third largest employer². Against this backdrop, the skills, competence, and contributions of a dogger are felt industry-wide.
Defining the Dogger
In the rhapsody of powerful machinery that defines a construction site, a dogger plays a key role involving coordination, communication, and control. They are responsible for guiding a crane or hoist operator in the movement and safe placement of loads using slinging techniques and directing the crane movements by the use of designated hand or verbal commands³.
Ideally, a dogger is a master of multitasking, leveraging on-the-ground insight with technical aptitude to navigate the high-risk environment in which they operate.
A Day in the Dogger’s Boots
Every day, Kylie is responsible for applying the correct slinging techniques, interpreting the load charts, managing the lifting gear, inspecting the gear for faults or damage, and effectively communicating with the crane or hoist operator³.
Every load, every lift, and every communication signal plays a part in assuring operational safety and optimisation on site. From construction to mining and everything in between, doggers keep the heartbeat of these industries alive and safe.
Responsibilities: More than Just Lifting
While the title of ‘dogger’ might suggest a straight forward role, the job embraces multidimensional layers of responsibility, each critical in maintaining safety, efficiency, and progress on site.
Correctly Slinging Loads
A fundamental responsibility is understanding the load to be moved, the correct slinging technique, and ensuring proper attachment to the crane or hoist. Incorrect or loose applications can lead to potentially disastrous results.
Overseeing Lifting Gear
Another key aspect is the continuous inspection and management of lifting gear. Ensuring the equipment is in prime condition, suitable to the task, and safely stored when not in use, are crucial duties of a dogger⁴.
Directing Crane or Hoist Movements
Aside from handling loads, Kylie directs the crane operator’s work, acting as the operator’s eyes and ears when out of direct line of sight. This requires a good understanding of standard hand signals or radio commands involving detailed coordination and constant communication.
Verifying Crane Capacity
It’s essential to ascertain whether the crane or hoist can handle the weight of a specific load, ensuring it falls within the crane’s safe working load limit. A dogger needs to confidently interpret load charts and exercise judgement⁵.
Ensuring Site Safety
Beyond handling the gear and directing cranes, a dogger serves an important role in general site safety. By identifying potential hazards before commencing a lift, clearing the lift path, and eliciting safety checks, a dogger can help avoid accidents that could have severe consequences.
The Importance of Rigging & Dogging Licensing
In Australia, dogging is categorised as high-risk work. To work as a dogger, an individual must obtain a Dogging (DG) high-risk work (HRW) licence. No undefined individual can hope to instantly mirror the expertise Kylie brings to her craft. Prospective doggers must undergo rigorous training and assessment under nationally recognised training units⁶.
While fatalities involving cranes are thankfully not frequent, when they occur, they’re catastrophic. Out of the 182 workplace fatalities in Australia in 2019, 8 involved a crane⁷. Ensuring doggers are adequately trained and well versed in their responsibilities is an essential step in limiting these unfortunate incidents.
As the sun sets and the workday ends, Kylie’s quiet satisfaction is sourced from the knowledge that she has masterfully navigated yet another day of successful load lifting, doing her part in building Australia’s economic landscape. The everyday heroes like Kylie, without songs of praise sung about their work, are, nonetheless, the spine of industries, an artery of progress, embodying the true spirit of the dogger: meticulous, pivotal, safety-led, and staunchly dedicated.
From understanding the intricacies of load weights, signalling, and safety measures to liaising with other on-site personnel for smooth, efficient operations, a dogger is the linchpin in the complex mechanism of construction, mining, or other heavy industries. The role of a dogger in the logistical chain cannot be overstated, reinforcing the statement that ‘without doggers, Australia stops.’
Eager to be part of the construction story that shapes our city skylines? At Achieve Training Services, we offer comprehensive dogger course specially designed to equip you with the necessary skills, certification, and confidence to excel in load lifting operations.
Master the art of multitasking in high-risk zones. Learn to liaise with crane operators, ensure site safety, and calculate gear load like a pro.
Turn your potential into action by enrolling in our Dogger Course today. Visit our website, email us general course enquiries or call us at 02 4201 0418 to kick start your journey in the field of high-risk operations.
Achieve more, become more with Achieve Training Services
Your gateway to becoming a skilled dogger.
To Your Success
The Team at Achieve
