Sling Safety

Presented byBill Taylor

Objectives

• Be familiar with OSHA’s regulations regarding slings.

• Understand safe sling use.

• Be able to identify and describe conditions necessitating sling’s replacement.

Slings

• OSHA Part 29 CFR 1910.184 Defines a sling as :

• An assembly which connects the load to the material handling (lifting) equipment

Frequency of Inspections

All slings are to be inspected prior to their use. This includes chain, wire rope and synthetic slings and their attachments, i.e. master links, alligators, clips, hooks, quick-alloys etc..

A thorough plant-wide inspection is required to be performed at least once every 12 months.

Hitches

Load Capacity and Sling AnglesLoad Capacity and Sling Angles

The load capacity of the sling is determined by its weakest component.

Never Overload a Sling. 

Remember, the wider the sling legs are spread apart, the less the sling can lift!

1000 lbs Capacity

707 lbs Capacity

500 lbs Capacity

Load Capacity and Sling AnglesLoad Capacity and Sling Angles

Example: Choker rating of each sling = 6,000 lbs.Measured Length (L) = 6 ft.Measured Height (H) = 4 ft.Reduction Factor (RF) = 4 (H) ÷ 6 (L) = .667 Reduced sling rating in this configuration = .667(RF) x 6,000 lbs. = 4,000 lbs. of lifting capacity per sling

Three Types of Slings

Wire Rope Slings

Chain Slings

Synthetic Web Slings

Chain Slings

Chain Slings

Only chain slings purchased from the manufacturer are allowed.

No homemade slings allowed!!

Chain Sling Inspection Items

Cracks, stretches, nicks, gouges, welding splattered or deformed master links

One leg of a double or triple chain sling is longer than the others.  

Hooks have been opened more than 25% of the normal throat opening measured at the narrowest point or twisted more than 10 degrees from the plane of the unbent hook.  

Chain size at any point of any link is less than stated in the chart on the next slide, the sling shall be removed.  

Special Precautions

• Chain slings should never be modified or repaired by operators! Only qualified maintenance personnel may do so.

• It is important to realize that the capacity of a sling decreases as the angle at which it is used to lift increases.

Wire Rope Slings

Wire Rope Sling Inspection Items

 Three randomly distributed broken wires in one strand, in one rope lay.

Wear or scraping of 1/3 the original diameter of outside individual wires.

Kinking, crushing or any damage resulting in distortion of the wire rope.

End attachments that are cracked, worn or deformed.

Corrosion of the rope or end attachments.

Polyester Round Slings

Codes and Capacities

Synthetic Web Sling Inspection

Acid or caustic burns on the sling.

Melting or charring of any part of the sling’s surface.

Snags, punctures, tears, or cuts.

Stitching is broken or worn.

The sling is stretched. To assist operators in determining if a sling is stretched, manufacturers incorporate a red wear cord inside of the sling. When this red wear cord can be readily seen upon inspecting the sling, the sling has been stretched and is to be removed.

Safe Usage Practices

Slings should be stored off the floor and in a clean, dry place. Always hook with a closed hook arrangement hooks facing out.

Never drag slings across the floor. 

Safe Usage Practices

Never shock load slings.

Keep loads balanced to prevent overloading slings.

Always lift loads straight up.

Never rest a load on a sling, or pinch a sling between the load and the floor.

A sling should not be pulled from under a load when the load is resting on the sling.

Make sure the hook is always over the center of gravity of the load before lifting it.

Do not apply a load to a twisted, knotted or kinked chain.

Do not force or hammer hooks or chains into position.

Safe Usage Practices

• Hands and Fingers shall not be placed between the sling and the load while the sling is being tightened around the load.

• Clean chains regularly as dirt and grit can cause excessive wear at the link bearing points.

• Never shorten a sling with knots, bolts or other makeshift devices.

• Protect the chain’s surface from contact with sharp corners, which can cause permanent damage through gouging or abnormal stress and wear.

In Conclusion

Select the right sling for the job.

Inspect slings prior to use, removing from service any in question.

Remember the effect of sling angles on load capacities.

Properly store slings when finished to avoid damage.