A rigger can work in various industries, including entertainment, manufacturing, and the military. The term originates from sailing, and riggers can move heavy loads, set up sets, pack parachutes, and prepare objects for use.
A rigger can do a number of different things depending on the industry he is employed in. Several industries, including entertainment, manufacturing, and the military, have positions known as “riggers,” and people in these positions do very different things. All senses of this word originate from the days of sailing, when the people responsible for setting and maintaining sails were known as riggers, named for the rigging used to hold and control sails. This provided sailors with a unique skill set that also proved useful on land.
In industry, a rigger is someone who moves heavy loads or who handles the placement of heavy machinery. This includes people who work on construction sites, people who install heavy and specialized equipment like MRI machines, and so on. Riggers of this type can use equipment sailors have known for centuries, such as block and tackle carriers, as well as cranes and other more sophisticated equipment. This type of work is learned through apprenticeship and requires physical fitness, a high degree of skill and the ability to work cooperatively.
The entertainment industry also has a place for editors. Riggers in entertainment handle setting up sets and any movement that needs to happen, including moving sets and actors on flies. Riggers can be part of the crew that travels with a production, and they can also be based in a specific facility. Like heavy lifters, entertainment fitters use a variety of equipment to carry out their work.
In the military, personnel known as parachute fitters are responsible for packing parachutes and inspecting them. This job requires extensive training and a keen eye for detail, because safety hazards need to be identified before a parachute is deployed and used. Similarly, the military also use riggers for heavy moving in all branches of the military along with setting up military installations.
The term “handler” can be used in the sense of someone who prepares things and prepares them for use, regardless of whether traditional equipment is involved. In this case, the rigger conducts security checks, makes sure that everything is in place, and is engaged in unpacking and rebuilding broken objects for transport or storage. Working as this type of handler can be interesting, as it often provides opportunities for travel.
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