Sling Safety

Objectives
 Be familiar with OSHA’s regulations
regarding slings.
 Understand safe sling use.
 Be able to identify and describe conditions
necessitating sling’s replacement.
29 CFR 1910.184 Slings

Sling: An assembly which connects the load

to the material handling (lifting)
equipment.
Three Types of Slings
1. Chain Slings

2. Wire Rope Slings

3. Synthetic Web Slings

 Frequency of Sling Inspections
All slings are to be inspected each day 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.
 Sling Load 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 Lift Capacity 707 lbs Lift Capacity 500 lbs Lift Capacity
Chain Sling Inspection Items
 Cracks, stretches, severe nicks, gouges, welding splattered or
deformed master links, coupling links, chains or other
components. 
 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.   
 Chain Sling Wear Chart
Chain Size Minimum Chain Size Minimum
(inches) Allowable (inches) Allowable
Chain Size Chain Size
(Inches) (Inches)
¼ 15/64 1 13/16
3/8 19/64 1 1/8 29/32
½ 25/64 1¼ 1
5/8 31/64 1 3/8 1 3/32
¾ 19/32 1½ 1 3/16
7/8 45/64 1¾ 1 13/32
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.
Chain Slings
Only chain slings purchased from
the manufacturer are allowed.

No homemade slings allowed!!

 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.
 Synthetic Web Sling Inspection
Items
 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.
 Inspection of Alligator Clamps

1) Wear pads.
2) Jaw locking mechanism
whether spring action, or pull
chain must be functional.
3) Pins on the alligator.
4) Attachment ring.
5) Quick-alloys.

Remove alligators from

service if the teeth are
worn even with wear
indicator teeth!
 Safe Usage Practices
 Slings should be stored off of the
floor and hung on racks
whenever possible in a clean, dry
environment.
 Never drag slings across the
floor. 
 Always hook with a “closed
hook” arrangement (hooks facing
out).
Safe Usage Practices (Cont.)
 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 (Cont.)
 Hands and Fingers shall  Never shorten a sling with
not be placed between the knots, bolts or other
sling and the load while makeshift devices.
the sling is being  
tightened around the load.  Protect the chain’s surface
from contact with sharp
 Clean chains regularly as corners, which can cause
dirt and grit can cause permanent damage
excessive wear at the link through gouging or
bearing points. 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.