Sling Safety

Objectives

Be familiar with OSHA’s regulations Be familiar with OSHA’s regulations regarding slings.regarding slings.

Understand safe sling use.Understand safe sling use. Be able to identify and describe conditions Be able to identify and describe conditions

necessitating sling’s replacement. necessitating sling’s replacement.

29 CFR 1910.184 Slings

SlingSling: An assembly which connects the load: An assembly which connects the load to the material handling (lifting) to the material handling (lifting)

equipment. equipment.

Three Types of Slings

1.1. Chain SlingsChain Slings

2.2. Wire Rope SlingsWire Rope Slings

3.3. Synthetic Web SlingsSynthetic Web Slings

Frequency of Sling Inspections

All slings are to be inspected each day prior to All slings are to be inspected each day prior to their use. This includes chain, wire rope and their use. This includes chain, wire rope and

synthetic slings and their attachments, i.e. synthetic slings and their attachments, i.e. master links, alligators, clips, hooks, quick-master links, alligators, clips, hooks, quick-

alloys etc..alloys etc..

A thorough documented inspection is A thorough documented inspection is required to be performed required to be performed at leastat least once every once every

3 months.3 months.

Sling Load Capacity and Sling Angles

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

Never overload a sling. Never overload a sling. 

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

1000 lbs Lift Capacity1000 lbs Lift Capacity 707 lbs Lift Capacity707 lbs Lift Capacity 500 lbs Lift Capacity500 lbs Lift Capacity

Chain Sling Inspection Items Cracks, stretches, severe nicks, gouges, welding splattered or Cracks, stretches, severe nicks, gouges, welding splattered or

deformed master links, coupling links, chains or other deformed master links, coupling links, chains or other components. components. 

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

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

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

Chain Sling Wear ChartChain SizeChain Size

(inches)(inches)

Minimum Minimum Allowable Allowable Chain Size Chain Size (Inches)(Inches)

Chain SizeChain Size

(inches)(inches)

Minimum Minimum Allowable Allowable Chain Size Chain Size (Inches)(Inches)

¼¼

3/83/8

½½

5/85/8

¾¾

7/87/8

15/6415/64

19/6419/64

25/6425/64

31/6431/64

19/3219/32

45/6445/64

11

1 1/81 1/8

1 ¼1 ¼

1 3/81 3/8

1 ½1 ½

1 ¾1 ¾

13/1613/16

29/3229/32

11

11 3/323/32

1 1 3/163/16

1 1 13/3213/32

Special Precautions

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

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

Chain Slings

Only chain slings purchased from Only chain slings purchased from the manufacturer are allowed.the manufacturer are allowed.

No homemade slings allowed!!No homemade slings allowed!!

Wire Rope Sling Inspection Items

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

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

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

End attachments that are cracked, worn or deformed.End attachments that are cracked, worn or deformed.

Corrosion of the rope or end attachments.Corrosion of the rope or end attachments.

Synthetic Web Sling Inspection Items

Acid or caustic burns on the sling.Acid or caustic burns on the sling.

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

Snags, punctures, tears, or cuts.Snags, punctures, tears, or cuts.

Stitching is broken or worn.Stitching is broken or worn.

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

Inspection of Alligator Clamps

1) Wear pads.1) Wear pads.2) Jaw locking mechanism 2) Jaw locking mechanism

whether spring action, or pull whether spring action, or pull chain must be functional.chain must be functional.

3) Pins on the alligator.3) Pins on the alligator.4) Attachment ring.4) Attachment ring.5) Quick-alloys5) Quick-alloys..

Remove alligators from Remove alligators from service if the teeth are service if the teeth are worn even with wear worn even with wear

indicator teeth!indicator teeth!

Safe Usage Practices Slings should be stored off of the Slings should be stored off of the

floor and hung on racks floor and hung on racks whenever possible in a clean, dry whenever possible in a clean, dry environment.environment.

  

Never drag slings across the Never drag slings across the floor. floor. 

Always hook with a “closed Always hook with a “closed hook” arrangement (hooks facing hook” arrangement (hooks facing out).out).

Safe Usage Practices (Cont.) Never shock load slings.Never shock load slings.

Keep loads balanced to Keep loads balanced to prevent overloading slings.prevent overloading slings.

Always lift loads straight up.Always lift loads straight up.

   Never rest a load on a sling, Never rest a load on a sling,

or pinch a sling between the or pinch a sling between the load and the floor.load and the floor.

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

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

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

Do not force or hammer hooks Do not force or hammer hooks or chains into position.or chains into position.

Safe Usage Practices (Cont.)

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

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

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

   Protect the chain’s surface Protect the chain’s surface

from contact with sharp from contact with sharp corners, which can cause corners, which can cause permanent damage permanent damage through gouging or through gouging or abnormal stress and wear.abnormal stress and wear.

In Conclusion

Select the right sling for the job.Select the right sling for the job. Inspect slings prior to use, removing Inspect slings prior to use, removing

from service any in question.from service any in question.Remember the effect of sling angles on Remember the effect of sling angles on

load capacities.load capacities.Properly store slings when finished to Properly store slings when finished to

avoid damage.avoid damage.