OPITO Banksman & Slinger COURSES

Take the next step in your lifting operations career with OPITO-accredited Banksman & Slinger certification. Offered by Melior Training, this assessment verifies your capability to safely perform critical slinging and load-handling duties in both offshore and onshore work environments.

OPITO Banksman & Slinger COURSES (COMING SOON)

Take the next step in your lifting operations career with OPITO-accredited Banksman & Slinger certification. Offered by Melior Training, this assessment verifies your capability to safely perform critical slinging and load-handling duties in both offshore and onshore work environments.

Banksman & Slinger Training

This internationally recognised certification is essential for personnel working in sectors where lifting operations are a key component of daily activity—whether offshore or onshore.

We offer both the OPITO Banksman & Slinger Initial Training (previously Stage 1) for newcomers entering the lifting operations field, and the Competence Assessment and Reassessment (Stages 3 & 4) for experienced individuals seeking to validate or renew their operational capabilities in line with OPITO standards.

Melior Training delivers these courses at our fully equipped Cape Town facility, providing candidates with expert instruction, realistic lifting scenarios, and a supportive assessment environment.

Training and assessments are carried out in accordance with OPITO standards, ensuring that learners meet globally accepted benchmarks for safety, accuracy, and operational performance.

Whether you work in the oil and gas sector, logistics, construction, or maritime support, this course will help you meet your compliance requirements and enhance your credibility in high-risk environments. Our experienced assessors ensure a thorough yet streamlined evaluation process, and support you through each stage of the assessment journey.

Melior Training is proud to uphold OPITO’s reputation for excellence, providing specialist training solutions that empower workers and raise safety standards across the lifting industry.

OPITO Banksman & Slinger
Initial Training
(previously stage 1)

Course duration

This course is delivered over three days and includes a combination of classroom instruction and practical exercises. Learners are introduced to the core principles and techniques needed to safely perform Banksman and Slinger duties.

What will you learn?

The course provides comprehensive training in the key principles of crane operation, focusing on effective communication using hand and radio signals, proper slinging techniques for various load types, and essential safety measures when working with cranes. It combines theoretical instruction with hands-on practical sessions, during which participants must demonstrate their understanding and competence in applying the course material.

Participants will gain the knowledge and practical skills required to support lifting operations under supervision. Course modules include:

An introduction to lifting roles and responsibilities
Understanding lifting equipment and accessories
Preparing and slinging loads safely
Directing and guiding crane movements using approved hand signals and radio communications
Understanding lifting plans and risk assessments
Supporting safe operational practices during lifting tasks

The training emphasises safety awareness and procedural compliance in line with OPITO standards.

Entry Requirements?

There are no formal prerequisites for attending the OPITO Banksman & Slinger Initial Training. However, learners must:

Be at least 18 years old
Be physically fit and capable of performing practical tasks
Complete a medical self-declaration form at the beginning of the course

Qualification and reward?

On successful completion of the course, learners will receive an OPITO Banksman & Slinger Initial Training Certificate, valid for 2 years. This certificate is a recognised step toward full competence, allowing delegates to log supervised workplace experience in preparation for future Competence Assessment (Stage 3).

Course cost?

R16 000 (including VAT)

Enquire Book online

OPITO Banksman & Slinger Assessment (previously stage 3) & re-assessment (previously stage 4)

Course duration

This OPITO Banksman & Slinger Competence Assessment / Reassessment is completed in one full day. Learners should set aside the entire working day to undertake all theoretical and practical evaluation activities, after which successful candidates receive their certificate.

What will you learn?

By completing the OPITO Banksman & Slinger Competence Assessment / Reassessment you will prove (and, for reassessments, renew) competence across four mandatory units:

Prepare and Sling Loads – Practical
Demonstrate safe, hands-on preparation, selection, and attachment of lifting gear to a variety of loads.

Prepare and Sling Loads – Theory
Confirm underpinning knowledge of procedures, equipment requirements, and best-practice standards for slinging operations.

Direct and Control the Movement and Placing of Loads – Practical
Practise giving clear hand- and radio-signals, coordinating with the crane operator, and safely positioning loads in real-time lifting scenarios.

Direct and Control the Movement and Placing of Loads – Theory
Validate your understanding of communication protocols, hazard awareness, and the safety rules that govern load movements.

Successful learners leave the assessment certified as OPITO-competent Banksmen & Slingers, ready to plan, signal, and supervise lifting operations safely and effectively onshore or offshore.

Entry Requirements?

Assessment Candidates (initial competence certification)
- Option 1:
  - OPITO Banksman & Slinger Initial Training certificate issued within the last 32 months, and
  - A fully completed OPITO Workplace Experience Logbook covering all 57 tasks, signed by your company’s discipline lead and verified by the training centre before assessment.
- Option 2:
  OPITO Banksman & Slinger Competence Assessment or Re-assessment certificate issued within the last 30 months.
- Option 3:
  Equivalent Banksman & Slinger qualification issued by a nationally recognised awarding body within the last 30 months, with equivalency confirmed by the centre.
- Certificate expired?
  If your OPITO competence certificate has lapsed by more than six months, you must first complete the OPITO Banksman & Slinger Initial Training; the logbook is then not required.
Re-assessment Candidates (certificate renewal)
- Hold a current OPITO Banksman & Slinger Competence or Competence Re-assessment certificate.
- If the certificate has expired by more than six months, you must return to Initial Training instead of re-assessment.
Fitness to Participate
A good standard of general fitness is essential; you will complete a medical fitness questionnaire on arrival at the centre.

Qualification and reward?

Participants who pass the assessment will receive an official OPITO Banksman & Slinger Competence Assessment or Reassessment Certificate from Melior Training. This internationally recognised qualification validates your proficiency in load handling and lifting supervision for a two-year period.