Dogman & Riggers
in Melbourne
Licensed Dogging and Rigging Crew Across Victoria
A dogman slings the load, selects and inspects the lifting gear, works out the weight and the center of gravity, and directs the crane operator when the load moves out of the operator’s view. A rigger does all of that and then moves, assembles, and secures structures using load shifting equipment.
Both are licensed high-risk work in Australia. Neither is something a spare hand on site can legally do, however capable they are.
The Crane Is Only Half the Equipment
Most lifts fail on the ground, not in the air. Before the hook takes weight, someone must confirm the load’s actual weight, locate its centre of gravity, select and inspect suitable slings, calculate sling angles and verify the lifting points. When the operator cannot see the load behind a building or above a roofline, a dogger must also guide the lift. Dogging is licensed work because sling angles can significantly reduce the effective capacity of lifting gear. Rigging covers more complex work, including structural steel erection, precast placement, hoists, safety nets, static lines, crane rigging, tilt slabs and dual lifts, with licence requirements based on complexity. Tell us what you are lifting, and we will confirm the crew required across Melbourne, Geelong, Bacchus Marsh and Western Victoria.
What Our Crew Does On Site
Five things a licensed crew brings to a lift:
Load assessment done properly. Actual weight, center of gravity, and lifting point suitability established rather than assumed from a drawing.
Correct gear selected and inspected. Chains, synthetic slings, shackles and lifting beams chosen for the load and the sling angle, and checked before use.
Communication with the operator. Standard signals and radio contact so the crane is directed accurately when the load is out of sight.
Load control through the lift. Tag lines and positioning to keep the load stable and land it accurately rather than approximately.
Structural work where licensed. Steel erection, precast placement, hoist setup, and crane rigging performed under the relevant license class.
What Our Crew Does On Site/span>
Five things a licensed crew brings to a lift:
Load assessment done properly
Zero outrigger set-up
Correct gear selected and inspected
Load control through the lift
Structural work where licensed
Where Our Crew Works
Construction and Steel Erection
Beams, columns, portal frames and roof steel erected on residential, commercial and industrial projects across Melbourne.
Precast and Tilt Panel
Concrete panels, tilt slabs, stairs and precast elements placed and braced on civil and commercial builds.
Plant and Machinery Installation
Machinery, tanks, presses and production equipment rigged, slung and positioned inside factories and processing facilities.
Electrical and Infrastructure
Transformers, switchgear and infrastructure components rigged for lifting where load geometry needs careful handling.
Demolition and Dismantling
Structures and plant rigged for controlled dismantling and removal under the appropriate license class.
Complex and Dual Lifts
Multi-crane lifts, awkward geometry, and loads requiring engineered rigging arrangements and a documented method.
Call us now at 0457 000 637.
How it Works
How it Works
Start with what is being lifted.
Start with what is being lifted.
Describe the lift
What is being lifted, its weight and dimensions, lifting points, whether it goes out of the operator's view, and what is being erected or assembled,d if anything.
Describe the lift
What is being lifted, its weight and dimensions, lifting points, whether it goes out of the operator's view, and what is being erected or assembled,d if anything.
Crew scoped
Licensee classes and crew numbers determined by the work, gear requirements confirmed, and a quote issued.
Crew scoped
Licensee classes and crew numbers determined by the work, gear requirements confirmed, and a quote issued.
Documentation and inductions
License copies, SWMS, and insurance provided, and site inductions completed ahead of the day.
Documentation and inductions
License copies, SWMS, and insurance provided, and site inductions completed ahead of the day.
On site
Crew attends, assesses the load, rigs it correctly, directs the lift, and lands it accurately.
On site
Crew attends, assesses the load, rigs it correctly, directs the lift, and lands it accurately.
What Comes With Our Crew
Six things included when you book dogging or rigging services:
Current licenses verified. Every crew member holds the license class the work requires, and we supply copies before they attend.
Rigging gear supplied. Chains, slings, shackles, spreader bars, and lifting beams provided with current inspection records, where you need gear as well as people.
Documentation prepared. SWMS and lift documentation supplied where the site or principal contractor requires it.
Site inductions handled. Crew arrives inducted and compliant with your site requirements rather than sorting it out at the gate.
Crew scaled to the job. The right number of people at the right license classes, rather than a standard allocation that under- or over-serves the lift.
Available with or without a crane. Book crew alongside our crane hire, or on their own where you have the machine and need the people.
Running a program with regular lifting? Call 0457 000 637, and we will arrange ongoing crew rather than booking job by job.
What Comes With Our Crew
Six things included when you book dogging or rigging services:
Book your dogging or rigging services
What is a dogman?
A licensed worker who slings loads for lifting and directs the crane operator. The role covers applying slinging techniques, selecting and inspecting lifting gear, estimating load weight and center of gravity, and guiding the crane when the load is out of the operator’s view.
What does a dogman do on site?
Assesses the load, selects chains, slings, shackles or lifting beams suited to the weight and sling angle, inspects that gear, attaches the load, then directs the crane operator through the lift using standard signals or radio and controls the load with tag lines.
What is a rigger?
A licensed worker who moves, places, assembles, and secures loads and structures using mechanical load shifting equipment. Rigging covers structural steel erection, precast placement, hoist setup, safety net and static line installation, and the rigging of cranes and plant.
What is dogging?
The licensed work of slinging loads and directing crane operators. In Australia, it requires a Dogging (DG) high-risk work license, and it is the foundation qualification for all rigging classes.
What is rigging?
The use of mechanical load shifting equipment to move, place and secure loads and structures. It is high-risk work requiring a license, graded across basic, intermediate, and advanced classes depending on complexity.
When is a dogman required?
Generally, whenever a load needs slinging judgment, or when the load travels outside the crane operator’s line of sight at any point in the lift. Many lifts involve both. If either applies to your job, you need a dogging license.
Do riggers also hold a dogging license?
Yes. Dogging is a prerequisite for basic rigging, and each rigging class requires the one below it. Every licensed rigger therefore holds dogging and can perform slinging work as well.
Can I use my own crew instead?
Yes, provided they hold current licenses of the correct class for the work. Many sites use their own people and bring us in only for complex lifts or when their crew is committed elsewhere.
Can I hire riggers without hiring a crane?
Yes. Dogmen and riggers are supplied on their own where you have the machine and need the crew, or alongside our crane hire as one booking.
Do you supply the rigging gear as well?
Yes. Chains, slings, shackles, spreader bars and lifting beams with current inspection records are supplied where you need equipment as well as personnel.
What do rigging services cost in Melbourne?
Crew is charged by the day or half-day depending on the job, with rates varying by license class and crew size. Call 0457 000 637 with the lift details, and we will scope it properly.
Which areas do you cover?
All Melbourne metro suburbs, with Maidstone, Werribee and Caroline Springs among the areas we attend most often, extending through Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Ballarat, plus regional Victoria.
0457 000 637
Open 24 hours
25 Rowsley Station Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340
Contact Us
Crew travel from our base at 25 Rowsley Station Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340 on the Western Freeway, which keeps early starts across the metro area and the western corridor realistic rather than optimistic. Maidstone work is dominated by lifts where the load leaves the operator's view. Narrow blocks with the crane on the street and the set down point behind the house make dogging essential rather than optional, and it is the most common crew requirement across the inner west.