Slings Safety.

By Manoj Kumar(hseguru@yahoo.in/HSE Professional)

Use superior quality slings in rigging operations.

Have you wondered why rigging experts always suggest a sling that has a
significantly higher breaking strength than the actual weight of the load you are
lifting? The manufacturers know that the rigging used in overhead applications
need to have room for error. This is known as the Safety Factor.

wire rope slings rated up to 36,000 lbs and sells round synthetic slings that are
rated up to 140,000 lb capacity. This capacity is the Working Load Limit of the
sling, which is the maximum amount of weight or force that the sling’s user is
allowed to put on the sling. Note: These slings do not break at the working load
limit. These slings are designed with a safety factor of 5:1. This means that 5
times as much force as the working load limit has to be applied to the sling
before it potentially fails. This means the wire rope slings have a Breaking
Strength of up to 180,000 lbs and the round synthetic slings can withhold up to
700,000 lbs.
Why are these capacities reduced by such a drastic degree?

Among others, here are 3 good reasons:

1. Shock Loading — Unexpected drops where the load can accelerate and
then must be ‘caught’ by the slings.

2. Wear — Working load limits are based on slings in brand new condition
and a safety factor can help account for normal wear and tear until it is
deemed unfit for further use.

3. Uneven loading — Slings are made up of either wires or fibers that must
all share the weight of the load evenly. If any situation arises where the
sling is bent or wrapped around an object, there is potential that some of
the wires or fibers will be taking on a greater share of the load than
others.