About the Course

The second course available in a three-part series, Rescue & Rigging Field Guide Series: Operations dives into everyday operations as it relates to rescue and rigging. The goal of this course is to seriously backfill some needed 1670 areas for students moving into the 1006 realm of technical rope rescue. As always, our courses are ever evolving and will continue to increase in breadth and depth. So as with all 40 hours courses, a person can only absorb so much, and a field course can only hand out so much information. So we’ve determined to into a deeper whelm of knowledge in the hopes to better equip the student for their fieldwork.

This course covers all Operations level objectives for professional rescuers as listed in NFPA 1670 and 1006. 1670 is general enough to both allow flexibility and confusion. The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has a tough job in determining what is and what isn’t appropriate for the team and individuals to learn. We’re here to open the windows and doors to what is possible in this realm both to equip the AHJ in decisions needing to be made, as well as the team+individual rescuers needing to fulfill the job performance requirements.

Rescue & Rigging Field Guide Series: Operations

The next course in this series, Rescue & Rigging Field Guide Series: Technician, is set to examine and to exceed the minimal requirements for NFPA 1670 Operations level and that of 1006 for professional rescuers. This course does not include the NFPA 1883 standard of Awareness, as this is in a preceding course and should be taken first. 

Operations is built as a plug-in course from a dozen other courses within RLA. The object for us is to show the students that while learning the basics is good, the source of those basics have deeper roots. So we want to refer students to those deeper roots as well. Reinforcing the basics even better.

The content you'll find inside this course could easily be applied to various rigging disciplines, but it is specifically useful for Firefighters and First Responders, Search and Rescue Team Members, Industrial Rescue Team Members, and Professional Rescuers.

What You'll Learn

Some of the topics covered in this course include:

  • The use of rope

  • Rope equipment

  • Hardware

  • The construction of mechanical advantage systems

  • Belay and safety systems

  • Anchor systems

  • Patient packaging

  • And more!

Learn from Some of the Best in the Industry

Learn more about the expert instructors

  • Rigging Lab Academy: Multiple Instructors

    Making the world safer, together

    Rigging Lab Academy: Multiple Instructors

    This course is brought to you through the efforts of multiple Rigging Lab Academy Instructors. These instructors have hand-selected material from their full-featured courses — all of which are exclusively available here at Rigging Lab Academy — and contributed them to a specific section or unit of this course. By blending the teachings of various instructors, Rigging Lab Academy members will gain exposure to different areas of expertise, course materials, and teaching methodologies.

Course Curriculum

  • 1
    Unit 1: Welcome
    • 1.1 Welcome
  • 2
    Unit 2: Equipment & Cordage
    • 2.1 Software
    • 2.2 Hardware
    • 2.3 Descenders & System Lowering Devices
    • 2.4 Video Tutorial: Cordage from Advanced Rigging Physics 2
    • 2.5 Video Tutorial: Equipment Ratings from Advanced Rigging Physics 2
    • 2.6 Video Tutorial: Connectors from Advanced Rigging Physics 2
  • 3
    Unit 3: Knot Craft
    • 3.1 Unit Material
    • 3.2 Chapter 4: Knots, Bends, and Hitches from the Rescue Response Gear - Rope Rescue Course Text
    • 3.3 Knot Craft
    • 3.4 Video Tutorial: Knots Part 1 from Advanced Rigging Physics 2
    • 3.5 Video Tutorial: Knots Part 2 from Advanced Rigging Physics
    • 3.6 Video Tutorial: Knots, Hitches & Bends: The Basics for Rope Rescue, Work Access, & SAR Systems
    • 3.7 Video Tutorial: Knots, Bends & Hitches: Bowline Knots from Elements of Rigging
    • 3.9 Quiz: Knot Craft
  • 4
    Unit 4: Anchors & Anchor Systems
    • 4.1 Unit Material
    • 4.2 Chapter 5: Anchors from the Rescue Response Gear - Rope Rescue Course Text
    • 4.3 Anchors & Anchor Systems
    • 4.4 Video Tutorial: Anchors & Anchor Systems from Peak Rescue Institute
    • 4.5 Quiz: Anchors & Anchor Systems
  • 5
    Unit 5: Anchors: The V-Anchor System
    • 5.1 Anchors: The V-Anchor System
    • 5.2 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor System for General All-Purpose Anchoring
    • 5.3 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor System Mirrored & Twin Tension Systems
    • 5.4 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor Top Rope Bottom Belay
    • 5.5 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor Top Rope Bottom Belay Using Bolt Hangers
    • 5.6 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor Top Rope Bottom Belay Looking at MA Efficiency
    • 5.7 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor System: Friction Top Rope Top Belay, Tubular Belay Device
    • 5.8 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor System: Friction Top Rope Top Belay, Climber Rescue Gri Gri
    • 5.9 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor Considerations Industrial Settings
    • 5.10 Video Tutorial: V-Anchor Small Team Raise and Lower System with Skyhook Rescue System
    • 5.11 Quiz: Anchors: The V-Anchor System
  • 6
    Unit 6: Anchors: Workhorse Anchors
    • 6.1 Anchors: Workhorse Anchors
    • 6.2 Video Tutorial: Top Anchor Considerations Mirrored Skate Block
    • 6.3 Video Tutorial: Tensionless Anchor in a Twin Highline
    • 6.4 Video Tutorial: Staggered Anchors to Increase Mechanical Advantage
    • 6.5 Video Tutorial: Bombproof Anchors: Anchor Considerations in Elevated Systems in Rope Rigging Systems
    • 6.6 Video Tutorial: Highline-Trackline Anchors Overview Using Removable Bolts
    • 6.7 Video Tutorial: Highline-Trackline Anchors in a Twin Tensioned System Using Removable Bolts
    • 6.8 Video Tutorial: Single Point Anchors for Highlines
    • 6.9 Video Tutorial: Backup Anchors for Highlines
    • 6.10 Quiz: Basic Litter Handling: Class 2 Litter Handling
  • 7
    Unit 7: Anchors: Load Sharing & Multipoint
    • 7.1 Anchors: Load Sharing & Multipoint
    • 7.2 Video Tutorial: Multipoint Anchors
    • 7.3 Video Tutorial: Marginal Anchors: Anchor Considerations in Rope Rigging Systems
    • 7.4 Video Tutorial: Anchoring: Equal Anchor With a Knot - Disadvantages
    • 7.5 Video Tutorial: Anchoring: Equalized Anchor With a Knot - Advantages
    • 7.6 Video Tutorial: Anchoring: Cam Placement - Lobe Contact
    • 7.7 Video Tutorial: Anchoring: Cams and Direction of Pull
    • 7.8 Video Tutorial: Managing Friction: Anchor Considerations in Rope Rigging Systems
    • 7.9 Video Tutorial: Multipoint Anchors in Slackline Highlines
    • 7.10 Video Tutorial: Canyoneering Multipoint Anchors
    • 7.11 Quiz: Anchors: Load Sharing & Multipoint
  • 8
    Unit 8: Belay Systems
    • 8.1 Unit Material
    • 8.2 Chapter 6: Belay Systems from the Rescue Response Gear - Rope Rescue Course Text
    • 8.3 Belay Systems
    • 8.4 Video Tutorial: Belaying Rescue Load with Petzl I’d
    • 8.5 Video Tutorial: Tandem Prusik Belay with Pre-Tensioner
    • 8.6 Video Tutorial: CMC MPD Manual Video
    • 8.7 Quiz: Belay Systems
  • 9
    Unit 9: Mainline Operation & Systems
    • 9.1 Unit Material
    • 9.2 Chapter 7: Mainline Operations from the Rescue Response Gear - Rope Rescue Course Text
    • 9.3 Mainline Operation & Systems
    • 9.4 Video Tutorial: Mechanical Advantage, Part 1
    • 9.5 Video Tutorial: Mechanical Advantage, Part 2
    • 9.6 Video Tutorial: Mechanical Advantage, Part 3
    • 9.7 Video Tutorial: Highline Tensioning Systems Overview
    • 9.8 Video Tutorial: Highline Tensioning System: A Closer Look
    • 9.9 Video Tutorial: Changeovers & Load Transfers
    • 9.10 Video Tutorial: Small Team Raise & Lower System: Skyhook Rescue Systems
    • 9.11 Video Tutorial: Lower Pick Off: Top Side Working Lines
    • 9.12 Video Tutorial: RPM Rack: Pulleys & Mariners
  • 10
    Unit 10: Litter Configurations & Operations
    • 10.1 Litter Configurations & Operations
    • 10.2 Video Tutorial: Basic Litter Handling: Class 2 Litter Handling
    • 10.3 Video Tutorial: Basic Litter Handling: Class 3 Litter Handling
    • 10.4 Video Tutorial: Vertical Litter Rig, Option 1
    • 10.5 Video Tutorial: Litter Packaging, Option 2
    • 10.6 Video Tutorial: Basic Litter Handling Class 4 Litter Movement
    • 10.7 Video Tutorial: 5th Class Litter Raise: Horizontal to Vertical Raise
    • 10.8 Video Tutorial: Two Rope Offset
  • 11
    Unit 11: Rappelling & Ascending
    • 11.1 Rappelling & Ascending
    • 11.2 Video Tutorial: Ascending Rope with Hitches
    • 11.3 Video Tutorial: Ascend Transferring to Descend then Ascend with Minimal Gear
    • 11.4 Video Tutorial: GriGri Ascend to Descend to Ascend Change Over
    • 11.5 Video Tutorial: Ascend to Descend Using Ascension Gear
    • 11.6 Video Tutorial: Various Descent Devices
  • 12
    Unit 12: Wrap Up
    • 12.1 Wrap Up

Added Perks

Additional features Rigging Lab Academy Members are enjoying

  • Certificate of Completion

    Download your personalized Certificate of Completion after completing the course.

  • 100% Self-Paced

    Go through the course material as fast or as slow as you'd like.

  • Private Discussion Board

    Ask questions, meet other students, and even chat with the course instructor.

What Students Are Saying

  • Covered a variety of topics and different ways to apply d...

    Errin Walker

    The class covered multiple ways to complete various rope applications. I thought it was informative and up to date.

    The class covered multiple ways to complete various rope applications. I thought it was informative and up to date.

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  • Excellent Course

    Jorge Luis Tartaret

    Very good course. There was a nice blend of techniques that I didn't know and others that I did. Very illustrative and easy to understand.

    Very good course. There was a nice blend of techniques that I didn't know and others that I did. Very illustrative and easy to understand.

    Read Less
  • Rescue & Rigging Field Guide Series: Operations

    Bill Brown

    Very concise course, not just a "click to win" certificate. I appreciated their was different instructors as well.

    Very concise course, not just a "click to win" certificate. I appreciated their was different instructors as well.

    Read Less
  • Good course with some excellent content, but would benefi...

    Craig Waterson

    Having just worked through the Rescue & Rigging Field Guide Series: Operations course, I was generally impressed with course content. Extensive video...

    Read More

    Having just worked through the Rescue & Rigging Field Guide Series: Operations course, I was generally impressed with course content. Extensive video tutorials cover a lot of ground: basic personal skills; equipment; anchor theory; mechanical advantage; and litter operation. The tutorial videos are generally well shot with good explanation of skills. As a relatively experienced Mountain Rescue rigger based in the UK, it was also interesting to compare and contrast North American / Non-European operations with methods I am used to. I also enjoyed the Richard Delaney videos covering the effect of significant forces on knots, and thought the mechanical advantage theory was well explained through the tutorials. The accompanying pdf text is also useful. My observations for improvement would likely focus on strengthening the through-line of the curriculum in each area. While the progression in some sections was clear and well laid out, in others it felt like the consecutive tutorials jumped about without logical focus; at one point we went from discussion of V-anchor systems and equalisation to two tutorials on the specifics of SLCD placement, and then returned to general V-anchors. I would have expected the discussion of SLCDs to come within a section on placing man-made passive and active protection. I also felt that, while vectors and force multiplication are discussed, there are a number of tutorials which focus on high angle high-line operations. In my mind the judgement and experience required to rig these systems is significant, and I was surprised to see them within what I understand is a mid-level course. I'd also flag that there are a number of duplicate videos within the course - section 5 in particular. In addition, I was surprised that, given how long the course took me to complete watching all the videos etc. the course credit is only 4 hours. I think I comfortably spent 8 or more working through it. Overall, a good course with some excellent content, text and tutorials. Some logical focus in some areas and a check for duplicate tutorials would help. Craig W

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