1. Sling Safety
Presented by
Bill Taylor

2. Objectives
• Be familiar with OSHA’s regulations
regarding slings.
• Understand safe sling use.
• Be able to identify and describe
conditions necessitating sling’s
replacement.

3. Slings
• OSHA Part 29 CFR 1910.184 Defines
a sling as :
• An assembly which connects the
load to the material handling (lifting)
equipment

4. 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.

5. Hitches

6. 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

7. 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

8. Three Types of Slings
Wire Rope Slings
Chain Slings
Synthetic Web Slings

9. Chain Slings

10. Chain Slings
Only chain slings purchased from
the manufacturer are allowed.
No homemade slings allowed!!

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Wire Rope Slings

14. 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.

15. Polyester Round Slings
Codes and Capacities

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.