In the heart of the Mazzella division of Mazzella Companies amidst the sounds of metal striking metal and the hum of machinery, a Wire Rope Rigger weaves the strength into every strand of the lifelines that hold the world aloft. One of those Wire Rope Riggers is Ryan Earney, a veteran of the industry.
Ryan welcomed us to follow him for a day, allowing us a glimpse into the intricacies of his work. From a first cup of coffee to an end-of-day cleanup, his day is filled with tasks that require not just strength but also a great deal of finesse.
What does a typical day look like?
Ryan’s typical day starts with coffee and game-planning. “I’ll pull the trucks out of the shop, get the shop ready for the day, check my boards, make sure they’re good to go, make sure our people that do the cutting are good to go, and then we get going.”
Ryan and his team’s day is structured around the tasks at hand. “Right now, we have two orders over there. I set my day up by what is going to go on and what I have lined up.”
Before starting any project, Ryan makes a comprehensive list of what is needed. He writes down everything used between the parts, wire rope, and labor on a tag, which will go on the order when it’s done. “Then the salespeople know everything that went into it.”
From there, Ryan will give the order with the reel numbers that he used so the next person knows which rules to pick in the system.
Part of Ryan’s role is to be considerate to his other team members by marking off the rope he’s working on. This practice, as Ryan puts it, “helps everyone know the baseline of what’s left on the rails. Then, when they get another order, they won’t find out they don’t have enough after pulling down the reel.”
Daily Wire Rope Rigger Tasks:
Training and Safety: Rigging involves working with heavy equipment and loads, so a significant part of a rigger’s role is to ensure safety. This could involve daily safety huddles and safety training.
Review and Interpretation: Review, interpret, and understand codes, instructions, and specifications of fabrication tickets along with special drawings or blueprints.
Calculations and Selection: Calculate wire rope cut lengths and fitting requirements and select appropriate equipment to produce a variety of wire rope assemblies.
Equipment Operation and Maintenance: Set up, operate, adjust, and maintain all wire rope production machines and equipment.
Tagging and Labeling: Select, write, and attach proper tags and labels to products. Locate and interpret appropriate capacity tables.
Inventory Management: Count, record, and report inventory as required.
Quality Control: Perform all duties to established quality standards and report defective or substandard material supplies or products.
Workplace Maintenance: Maintain work area, equipment, and tools in a clean and organized manner.
What equipment and skills are required for this role?
Equipment and Tools:
Wire Ropes and Chains: Used for lifting heavy loads in construction, securing cargo during transport, and in applications requiring high-strength anchoring.
Rigging Hooks and Shackles: Used to connect chains, ropes, slings, and other rigging equipment during the moving process.
Eye Bolts and Rigging Screws: Provide fortified locations to attach loads for lifting or tethering in rigging setups.
Wire Rope Production Machines and Equipment: Used to set up, operate, adjust, and maintain all wire rope production.
Tags and Labels: Write down the parts, wire rope, and labor, on tag placed onto the product.
Presses: Used to apply pressure to an object or material to change its shape or position.
Hand Tools: Small hand tools such as a measuring tape, hammer, saw, pick, screwdriver, and drill will be used for various tasks.
Calculator: Used for performing mathematical calculations, especially when calculating wire rope cut lengths and fitting requirements.
Skills and Abilities
Physical Strength: Must be able to lift or pull a minimum of 50 pounds, given the physical nature of the work.
Communication Skills: Solid written and verbal communication skills are required to effectively coordinate with the team and understand instructions.
Mechanical Aptitude: Demonstrated mechanical aptitude is necessary for operating and maintaining the rigging equipment.
Analytical, Conceptual, and Planning Skills: Strong skills in these areas are required for planning the day’s work, understanding the rigging process, and troubleshooting any issues.
Math Skills and PC Literacy: Excellent math skills are needed for calculating wire rope cut lengths and fitting requirements. Overall, PC literacy (Microsoft Office) is required for tasks like recording inventory and writing tags.
Detail Orientation and Consideration: Being detail-oriented, self-motivated, and considerate are required. This includes re-checking measurements and machine settings, and maintaining a clean and safe shop environment.
What led you to a career in wire rope rigging?
Ryan was a referral as his roommate at the time he started working in the wire rope cut side. “When I started, I didn’t even know this stuff existed. Once you start, you’ll see wire cables everywhere.”
Ryan’s past work experience was insulating attics and crawlspaces, so he knew his way around tools and working hard, so he felt he had a good idea of the kind of work he was getting into.
Related: What is a Rigger at Mazzella?
What keeps you in the right mindset?
Ryan says that the early hours are perfect for him. “For me, it comes down to getting to go home at 4 PM. I love the job, I love what I do, but there’s nothing better than making sure all of my stuff’s done for the day and going home.”
It’s not just the hours of the day that matter to Ryan but also the people he spends those hours with. “The people are what keeps me coming in here every day. I see these people more than I see my family half the time. So, it’s good to enjoy the people you work with.”
Ryan remembers a time when he and his coworkers hosted a shrimp boil for a customer, which luckily happened on his birthday. “We were running brake tests in the back and had good barbeque food and a raffle. We have a good time.”
Ryan also finds a lot of peace of mind in knowing he’s doing his job correctly. “There are a lot of rigging companies out there, and I’ve seen some really mangled wire rope.”
That peace of mind only came from a lot of experience, mental fortitude, and humility. “Wire rope will humble you, so be prepared to be humbled by it. Come in to work every day with a good attitude because this stuff will beat you up. It’s not good for you to let it get the best of you. Learning the ropes is about getting your reps in. You’ll make slings until you know it by heart.”
Why Mazzella?
Ryan started his career with a company that Mazzella acquired in 2023 and shared that, at first, he was scared about the transition. “I was worried about everything changing, my day-to-day, but it didn’t. We didn’t change the way we make slings. All we did was change the name of the tag that went on it.”
Ryan likes that he can see his work in action, bringing up a bridge project going on in the area at the moment. “They have about nine cranes on site, and a lot of what’s hanging off it came from us. It’s cool driving past it. I think, ‘Yeah, I probably made that safety tie off.’”
Although Ryan may have started under a different brand, he shares a lot of the same core values of Mazzella – especially Lifelong Learning. “When I started, I told my boss that as long as I’m learning, you’ll never hear me complain. I don’t want to feel stagnant. With wire rope cuts, sling, max chain, and hoist department, there’s always something to learn about it. That’s why I have been here for 15 years. Some guys have been here more than 30 years and are still learning.”
Ryan mentions that he’s interested in the apprenticeship program available at Mazzella and is also looking forward to possibly moving into a counter-sales position. “I think they think I’d be a good candidate for the job because I have so much product knowledge. If you don’t know what you’re selling, it’s hard to sell it. The biggest thing is being on the same page as the customer and speaking their language. You aren’t just an order taker. You want to be their partner.”
Related: What Education Benefits Does Mazzella Companies Offer?
What industries does Mazzella support?
Aerospace: The design, development, manufacturing, and maintenance of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and related systems.
Automotive: Automotive integrators, assembly facilities, tier 1 and tier 2 manufacturers, and stamping facilities.
Construction: Steel erection, concrete and precast, infrastructure, geotechnical drilling, bridge /wastewater/dams, GCs and PM firms, and marine construction.
Entertainment: Amusement parks, theme parks, concert venues, arenas, and performing arts venues and theaters.
Food and Beverage/Pharmaceutical: Research, production and processing facilities, distribution, logistics, and warehousing for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical offerings.
General Manufacturing: The production of goods through various processes, typically involving the transformation of raw materials into finished products.
Government/Military: Governance, public administration, and service provision. Includes Military/Armed Forces, Government contractors, and other local, state, and federal authorities.
Metals: Steel producers and processors, aluminum producers and processors, metals service centers, metal fabricators, non-ferrous producers, foundries, and scrap yards.
Mining: Surface mining and underground mining and extraction of minerals, metals, coal, gemstones, and other geological materials.
Oil and Gas: Drillers, gas producers, pipeline construction, processors/petrochemical plants, rig movers, supply houses, well service companies, and general service companies.
Power Generation: Generation and distribution of electricity and power using hydro, nuclear, coal, natural gas, and onshore wind and offshore wind technologies.
Pulp and Paper: Production of paper and paper-related products through pulp extraction and manufacturing of various types of paper and paperboard products.
Shipbuilding: The shipbuilding industry is a vast sector that supports shipbuilding and repair, boat building and repair, and barge building and repair.
Transportation/Intermodal: Railroad transportation and rail car manufacturing, tug and barge, commercial dams and levees, inland ports, break bulk, seaports, and harbors.
Wholesale: Distribution of goods and merchandise to various retailers, businesses, institutions, and other wholesalers.
What advice would you give to a newcomer?
“Stay humble and keep your nose to the grindstone. This job teaches you to be better with your hands, or your hands and your arms will hurt. It’s physical, so you’ll learn a lot about yourself. What you’re capable of, who you actually are, and how much drive you have.”
He also mentioned that there’s a lot of support, whether it’s him answering their question or going to a job aide, like a standardized measurement chart. “Our manager always says, ‘Don’t overthink it. Just go to the chart’. It can get tricky sometimes, and you don’t want to get numbers mixed up.”
Ryan also pointed out that while some may see the role as being only for physically strong people, he has discovered that finesse plays a larger role. “Being strong will only get you so far. Everything’s technique here. Even meatheads will be humbled by wire rope. Just be humble. Things will go your way, I promise.”
Balance of Tasks and Responsibilities
As we leave Ryan, we’re reminded that it’s not just the hours spent at work but the people we share those hours with that truly matter. His day gave us unique insight into the intricate balance of tasks and responsibilities that make up a day in the life of a Mazzella Wire Rope Rigger.
