Slings Slings require special attention because they are almost always subjected to severe wear, abrasion, impact loading, crushing, kinking and overloading. They also merit special attention because seemingly insignificant changes in sling angle drastically affect the loading. Failure to provide blocking or protective pads will permit sharp corners to cut slings. Pulling slings from under loads will result in abrasion and kinking. Dropping loads on slings or running equipment over them will cause crushing. Sudden starts and stops when lifting loads will increase the stresses in them. Also, improper storage will result in deterioration. Because of the severe service expected of slings, errors in determining load weight, and the effect of sling angle on loading, it is recommended that all safe working loads be based on a factor of safety of at least 5:1. A Few Tips: - They should be used only on light loads, and must not be used on objects that have sharp edges capable of cutting the rope. - They should not be used where they will be exposed to high temperatures, severe abrasion or acids. - Before lifting any load with a fibre sling be sure to inspect the sling carefully because they deteriorate far more rapidly than wire rope slings and their actual strength is very difficult to estimate. - Always have extra fibre rope slings on hand. - Do not hesitate to dispose of any questionable fibre rope slings. Cut them up before disposal. - Fibre rope slings that have a covering, such as continuous slings, are very difficult to to inspect because the rope itself is hidden. If you have any doubts, dispose if it. - Most fibre rope slings will not have any SWL attached. Mark the slings with SWL and certificate number for reference. - Continuous slings will have a leather tag sewn into the cover. If this is becoming illegible mark it with a marker. - Inspect the splices, the eyes and the entire length of the sling. - Check for external wear and cuts, variations in size and shape of strands, discolouration, and the elasticity or "life" remaining in the rope. - Untwist the strands without kinking or distorting them. the inside of the rope should be bright and clean as when it was new. Check for broken yarns, excessively loose strands and yarns, or an accumulation of powdery dust, which indicates excessive internal wear between strands as the rope is flexed back and forth in use. - If the inside of the rope is dirty, if strands have started to unlay, or if the rope has lost life and elasticity, do not use it for hoisting. - Check for distortion in hardware. If thimbles are loose in the eyes, seize the eye to tighten the thimble. Ensure that all splices are in good condition and all tucks are done up. - If you have any doubt about the type of rope or its condition, don't use it. There is no substitute for safety. - Synthetic webbing slings are available in a number of configurations. - They can be cut by repeated use around sharp-cornered objects and they eventually show signs of abrasion when rough-surfaced products are continually hoisted. - They will be marked with the manufacturer's name or trademark, code number, type of web material and safe-working load. - Before each use check them for:   - worn eyes or fittings;   - bent, corroded, or twisted fittings;   - frayed or torn webbing;   - cuts and holes, especially along edges;   -worn or broken stitching;   - wear from abrasion;   -acid, caustic, or heat charring or burns. Web slings showing any of these signs should be taken out of service, cut up and destroyed so they can't be used by anyone else. Chain slings are used where the primary requirements are ruggedness and resistance to abrasion and high temperature. Only one type - alloy steel chain, grade 80 or grade 100, is suitable for rigging and overhead hoisting. Alloy chain possesses excellent ductile properties typical of most rigging hardware. The links actually stretch a little when overloaded. This deformation is a warning sign, cautioning the user that the chain has been overloaded and its capacity reduced. Deformed chains must be removed from service. Chains that are not made of alloy steel don't have good ductile properties. they can fail without warning. For this reason, non-alloy chains are prohibited fro overhead hoisting. The disadvantage of chain is that it is only as strong as its weakest link. When wires break in a wire rope sling under load, it doesn't necessarily translate into an accident. But when one link in a chain fails, the load will come down. While regular inspection is essential to all rigging operations, it is especially critical where chain slings are being used. - Hose off the deck where you will be working to remove as much grit and abrasive material as possible. - You can use purple stuff that will help find cracks - Inspect every link, including joining apparatus. - Inspect for inner link wear and wear on outside of the link barrels. Manufacturers publish tables of allowable wear for various link sizes. - Check for nicks and gouges that may cause stress concentrations and weaken links. - Renew any tags or stamps that identify the chain. - Ensure the Hammer-Locks move freely and that they are not overly worn. Lubricate them. - This is also an ideal opportunity to take photos of, or sketch, anything unusual. This may be of use in the future. - Make notes of what you found, where you found it and what, if anything, you did about it. - If you replace a Master Link , Hammer Lock, Chain, Hook or any other part, ensure the new part is certified and identified. Better yet, send the entire unit to a test facility for recertification. - If you find a chain that requires recertification, tag it as such and set it aside. Do not use it until it has been recertified. - If you find a chain that requires disposal, chop it up and dispose of it. Do not keep it. - If in doubt, dispose of the chain. Great strength and a minimum of weight are combined with flexibility. Warning occurs before failure by the breaking of outer wires. Reserve strength is provided in that the inner wires are protected by the outer wires and possess sufficient strength to carry the load if a reasonable factor of safety is allowed for the sling. Properly fabricated wire rope slings are the safest type available. They do not wear as rapidly as fibre rope slings and they are not as susceptible to the weakest link ailment of chains. Wire rope slings show, by inspection, their true condition and the appearance of broken wires clearly indicates the extent of, fatigue, wear, abrasion and the like. All wire rope slings should be made of improved plow steels and should have independent wire rope cores to reduce the possibility of rope being crushed in service. It is recommended by the Construction Safety Association of Ontario that all eyes in wire rope slings be equipped with thimbles and that the eyes be formed with the Flemish Splice and secured by swaged or pressed mechanical sleeves or fittings. The single most important operational check to be made on hoisting and rigging equipment is the rope and rigging inspection. Factors such as abrasion, wear, fatigue, corrosion, improper reeving and kinking are often of greater significance in determining the usable lift of wire rope than are strength factors based on new rope conditions. All wire rope in continuous service should be observed during normal operation and visually inspected ???????? . A complete and thorough inspection of all ropes in use must be made at least xxxxxx and all rope which has been idle for a period of a month or more should be given a thorough inspection before it is put back into service. All inspections should be the responsibility of and be performed by an appointed competent person who makes a complete report of the rope condition. A record of each rope should be kept (include certificate number, date of fitting, size, construction, length and defects found during inspections). Any deterioration, resulting in a suspected loss of original rope strength, should be carefully examined and a determination made as to whether further use of the rope would constitute a safety hazard. This is particularly true if the rope has been stressed, shock-loaded, jumped a sheave, run around a sharp bend or otherwise compromised. Only by inspection can it be determined whether or not the rope should be replaced. The inspector must decide: - if the rope's condition presents and possibility of failure, and - if the rate of deterioration of the rope is such that it will remain in safe condition until the next scheduled inspection. When inspecting the rope give every inch of its length equal care as serious deterioration frequently occurs in localized positions. The estimate of the rope's condition must be made at the section showing the maximum deterioration. If you, as the inspector, consider it necessary to replace a rope cost is not a factor. Should there be any doubt as to whether or not a rope is fit for use, it should be replaced at once. Never risk danger to life or damage to property by taking a chance. When a rope has been condemned, it should be destroyed at once or cut up into short lengths so that it cannot be used for hoisting purposes. Cut off any fittings and dispose of them. Refer to the Construction Safety Association of Ontario "Rigging Manual", Chapter 6, Slings.