Rigger Self Assessment

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Below is our attempt to create a rigger self assessment quiz.  This quiz is not an end all be all, it does not certify anyone or anything as safe​.  It is an attempt to give people a tool to assess their own knowledge as a rigger or for you to assess a potential rigger and check what they know.  It was created to address two problems. 

 

The first is imposter syndrome where people do not yet have confidence in their skills or a base line of comparison.  The second is to address the dunning-kruger effect where beginners believe themselves more skilled than they are.

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It is broken into 5 parts and a score of 0-35 roughly means you are still a beginner.  A score of 35-75 tags you in the intermediate range.  75 or higher and you're heading into the advanced range.  This assumes a relatively even distribution across all categories.

The quiz covers much more than just knowledge of rope as their is much more to being a rigger than just tying knots.  After all, rope safety tip #1 is you are not tying rope, you are tying a person, talk with your person.  As this is a creation over time of multiple people it is for use by anyone so yes, you may steal this quiz but if you could give the site a shout out as you do, that'd be appreciated.

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People and negotiation: */25
Human Knowledge and Safety: */25
Terms/Knots/Patterns: */25
Equipment Knowledge and Safety: */25

Bonus skills questions: */15

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People and negotiation - Do you ask these questions? Do you know why you should? (Yes=1, No=0)

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1. What interests you about rope?

2. What kind of tie are you looking to do or try?

3. How do you want the tie to make you feel?

4. Do you have any joint injuries? If yes - what are they and from what?

5. Do you get motion sickness?

6. Do you have any false limbs or implants?

7. Do you have any joint or muscle conditions?

8. Do you have a history of seizures?

9. Have you consumed any alcohol today?

10. Have you used any drugs today?

11. Are you on any medications that could affect your ability to feel pain?

12. Are you claustrophobic?

13. Is there someone you would want me to contact in the case of emergency?

14. Is your partner here or are there any relationship dynamics I need to consider?

15. How is your flexibility? Can you demonstrate your range of motion?

16. Do you have any communicable skin conditions or diseases relevant to what we are doing?

17. Do you have any new piercings or tattoos I should be aware of?

18. Do you have any current injuries that could affect the tie?

19. Have you done this (the type of tie you’re negotiating) before?

20. Is there any part of your body you do not want me to touch during the tie?

21. Are you ticklish?

22. Do you have any known triggers I should be aware of?

23. Do you have any heart or blood pressure issues?

24. How are you feeling right now?  Are you hydrated or do you need to pee?

25. What kind of aftercare do you think you’ll need?

Human Knowledge and Safety - Do you know the answer to these questions? Do you know why you should? (Yes=1, No=0)

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1. What are safe words and why should you always have them?

2. What are you safe signs in the event of a loud space or the person is gagged?

3. What are the three major nerves in the arm to be aware of? What happens if they are compressed?

4. Can you point to where the nerves are the most exposed on the arm?

5. What are the main arteries on the arm to be aware of? What happens if they are compressed?

6. Can you point to where the arteries are most exposed on the arm?

7. What first aid steps should you take in the event of a pinched nerve or artery?

8. What are the pressure points along the clavicle and in the center sternum that can cause pain or nerve compression? What happens if they are compressed?

9. Can you point to where the clavicle and sternum nerves are?

10. How does compression of the chest or sternum area affect breathing?

11. What are the major nerve clusters in the hip area that can be injured by many hip harnesses? What happens if they are compressed?

12. Can you point to the pubic nerve cluster and femoral nerve?

13. What is the main artery on the inside of the thigh beneath the groin?

14. Can you point to the femoral artery?

15. What is the fibular nerve? What happens if they are compressed?

16. Can you point to the fibular nerve at both the knee and the ankle?

17. What is the temperature safety check?

18. What is the strength safety check?

19. What do different colors in the limbs indicate during bondage?

20. What are stretches you should do before rope bondage?

21. What are stretches and movements you can do to help come out of a tie?

22. What are the different types of joints in the human body?

23. How do the types of joints in the body move differently?

24. What are the risks of prolonged immobility?

25. How frequently should you check in?

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Terms/Knots/Patterns - Do you know these terms, knots, patterns or techniques? (Yes=1, No=0)

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1. What is the bight of the rope? What are the running ends?

2. What is an overhand vs. an underhand loop?

3. Can you tie a larks head?

4. Can you tie a half hitch?

5. Can you tie a munter hitch?

6. Can you tie a friction?

7. Can you tie a square knot or surgeon's knot?

8. Why is it important that a tie is non-collapsing?

9. Can you join two ropes?

10. What is a single column tie?  Can you tie one?

11. Can you tie at least 4 different single column ties?

12. What is a double column tie?  Can you tie one?

13. Can you tie at least 4 different double column ties?

14. Can you tie at least 4 different common arm tie patterns?

15. Can you tie at least 4 different common chest tie patterns?

16. Can you tie at least 4 different common hip harness patterns?

17. Can you tie at least 4 different common leg tie patterns?

18. Can you tie a foot pattern?

19. Can you tie hair?

20. Can you tie a rope gag?

21. Can you lock off an upline at the top of the line?

22. Can you lock off an upline at the bottom of the line?

23. Can you lock off an upline in the middle of the line?

24. Can you tie a hanger tie into a harness?

25. Can you tie a bomb knot or quick release knot?

 

Equipment knowledge and safety - Do you have these and know how to use them? (Yes=1, No=0)

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1. Do you have a rope cutter?

2. What type of rope cutter do you have and why?

3. Do you have a marlin spike?

4. Have you actually cut a rope off of yourself or your partner for practice?

5. Have you tensioned a knot and then used a tool like a marlin spike to unjam it?

6. What is the difference between the working load of rope and the breaking load?

7. How is rope rated and is your rope rated?

8. What are different types of rope material?

9. What are the common lengths and diameters of rope?

10. What are different ways to whip the ends of your rope and why does it matter?

11. What are ways to treat rope?

12. What are ways to clean rope?

13. What are signs your rope is fatigued and may break or needs to be replaced?

14. What is a suspension ring and why would you want to use one?

15. What are ways to attach a ring to a hard point?

16. What are carabiners and what is the benefit of using them in suspension?

17. What is a hard point and what are some examples of hard points?

18. What are some things that are NOT hard points that people use in error and should be avoided?

19. What is the difference between a dynamic load, a static load and a shock load?

20. What is the plane of a rig and why should you be careful not to break it?

21. What is directional force and how does it affect a rig and the attachment point?

22. What are other hard point attachments that can be used in suspension bondage?

23. What is a swivel and why would you want to use one?

24. What are suspension straps (sometimes called climbing runners)?

25. What are the risks of spinning in suspension?

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Bonus skills questions - Things to try if you think you know it all already (Yes=1, No=0)

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1. Can you tie one handed?

2. Can you tie with your non-dominate hand?

3. Do you know rope pulling tips and techniques like the finger hook or finding the gaps in your tie?

4. Can you tie blindfolded?

5. Can you tie behind your back?

6. Have you taught a basic tie to someone else?

7. Have you taught an advanced tie to someone else?

8. Have you taken a pattern you've learned and modified it to be even better for you or your partners style?

9. Have tied to a rhythm or in time with music?

10. Have you tied with your bottom staying still?  With you staying still?  With both of you staying still?  With both of you moving?

11. Have you done a transition in suspension?

12. Have you attended a bottoming class to learn tips and tricks your bottom can do to make tying better and safer?

13. Have you done breast bondage with rope?

14. Have you done genital bondage with rope?

15. Have you tied multiple body types and gender identities?

 

Link to original Fetlife writing

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