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– Offshore & Oil and Gas:
– Professional banksman offshore is a ‘rigger or deck crew
– A team of riggers manages lifting operations
– Specific methods, equipment, and safety protocols for different loads
– Equipment and materials transferred by boat using cranes
– Banksman’s crucial role in marine and offshore industries

– Contemporary:
– Crane or large vehicle drivers lack clear visibility in loading areas
– Banksman in charge of crane movements during loading and unloading
– Use of hand signals or radio link for communication
– Responsible for directing lorry movements and other plant
– Monitoring excavator movements to avoid obstructions

– Usage timeline:
– 1825: Man unhooked and emptied laden corves into carts or wagons
– 1849: Man responsible for drawing and replacing full tubs at the surface
– 1894: Person controlling unloading/loading of cages at the pit top
– Historical roles and duties of banksmen in different eras

– References:
– John Scott’s “Dictionary Of Civil Engineering”
– Information on banksmen and signallers by Health and Safety Executive
– Statistics on vehicle deaths due to reversing vehicles
– Importance of meeting regulated safety standards
– Sources for further reading and research

– External links:
– RoSPA’s Safety course material
– Health and Safety Executive Banksmans Signals
– Durham Mining Museum’s historic use in the coal industry
– Information on Cornish Tin Mining Terms
– UK Health and Safety Regulations on minimum hand signal requirements