Sling Safety

1
Sling Safety
2
Objectives

• Be familiar with OSHAs regulations regarding
  slings.
• Understand safe sling use.
• Be able to identify and describe conditions
  necessitating slings replacement.

3
29 CFR 1910.184 Slings

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

4
Three Types of Slings

1. Chain Slings
2. Wire Rope Slings
3. Synthetic Web Slings

5
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.

6
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
7
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.  

8
Chain Sling Wear Chart
Chain Size (inches) Minimum Allowable Chain Size (Inches) Chain Size (inches) Minimum Allowable Chain Size (Inches)
¼ 3/8 ½ 5/8 ¾ 7/8 15/64 19/64 25/64 31/64 19/32 45/64 1 1 1/8 1 ¼ 1 3/8 1 ½ 1 ¾ 13/16 29/32 1 1 3/32 1 3/16 1 13/32
9
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.

10
Chain Slings

• Only chain slings purchased from the manufacturer
  are allowed.No homemade slings allowed!!

11
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.

12
Synthetic Web Sling Inspection Items

• Acid or caustic burns on the sling.
• Melting or charring of any part of the slings
  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.

13
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!

14
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).

15
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.

16
Safe Usage Practices (Cont.)

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

17
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.