Slings, shackles, hooks and other rigging connect the load to the crane, and a failure there drops the load just as surely as a crane failure would. Every piece of rigging should be inspected by the user before each lift and periodically by a competent person, with clear rules for removing damaged gear from service and destroying it so nobody uses it again.
Standards and rules
Provincial occupational health and safety rules, including the Alberta OHS Code and the regulations in BC and Ontario, require rigging to be inspected, used within its rated capacity and removed from service when damaged. Many of these rules refer to the manufacturer's instructions and to recognized standards such as ASME B30.9 for slings and ASME B30.26 for rigging hardware, and to CSA standards where they apply. Check the current editions and what your province requires.
Three levels of inspection
- Initial inspection when new rigging arrives, to confirm it matches the order, is undamaged and is properly tagged.
- Pre-use inspection by the person using it, before every lift or at least every shift.
- Periodic inspection by a competent person at regular intervals, more often for gear in heavy or harsh service, with written records.
Identification tags
Every sling should carry a legible tag showing at least the manufacturer, the rated load for the hitches it can be used in, its size or type and, for synthetic slings, the material. A sling with a missing or unreadable tag should be taken out of service until it is re-identified by the manufacturer or a qualified person. Never guess a sling's capacity.
Wire rope slings
Remove a wire rope sling from service if you find:
- Broken wires beyond the limits in the applicable standard, or any broken wires at an end fitting
- Kinking, crushing, birdcaging or other distortion of the rope
- Heat damage, including discolouration or weld spatter
- Severe corrosion or pitting
- Excessive wear or reduction in rope diameter
- Damaged, cracked or slipped end fittings, ferrules or splices
- Hooks or fittings that are bent, twisted or opened
Alloy chain slings
Use only alloy chain made for overhead lifting, with the correct grade for the application. Inspect link by link, and remove the sling for:
- Cracks, nicks, gouges or bent, twisted or stretched links
- Wear beyond the manufacturer's limits, especially where links bear on each other
- Heat damage or weld spatter
- Damaged master links, couplers or hooks, and missing or damaged hook latches
- Excessive corrosion
Synthetic web and round slings
Synthetic slings are light and protect the load, but they cut easily and are damaged by heat and chemicals. Remove them for:
- Cuts, holes, tears, snags or abrasion on the sling body or edges
- Exposed red warning yarns, on slings that have them
- Broken or worn stitching in load-bearing splices
- Melting, charring or heat damage
- Acid or caustic burns, or stiff, brittle or discoloured areas
- Knots in any part of the sling
- Damaged or distorted fittings
- Exposed core yarns on round slings
Rigging hardware
Shackles, hooks, eyebolts, turnbuckles, spreader beams and other below-the-hook devices need the same discipline. Check for:
- Legible rated load markings and manufacturer identification
- Bent, twisted or stretched bodies and pins
- Cracks, nicks and gouges
- Correct, undamaged pins; never replace a shackle pin with a bolt
- Hook throat opening within limits and latches working
- Threads in good condition on eyebolts and turnbuckles
Damaged gear goes out of service for good. When rigging fails inspection, tag it out immediately and store it where it cannot be picked up by mistake. Unless the manufacturer or a qualified person repairs and re-certifies it, destroy it. Do not try to repair slings or hardware in the shop.
Good habits that extend rigging life
- Protect slings from sharp edges with softeners or corner protectors
- Account for the sling angle and hitch type, which reduce capacity
- Do not drag slings across the floor or pull them from under a load
- Store rigging clean, dry and off the floor, away from heat, sunlight and chemicals
- Keep a register of each piece of gear and its inspection history
- Use colour codes or tags to show gear has passed its latest periodic inspection, if your site uses that system
Competent riggers
Inspection is only part of safe rigging. Choosing the right gear, calculating loads and sling angles, and planning the lift are skills that need training. Workers should not rig loads beyond their training. See lift plans and rigging safety, and for the crane itself, overhead crane inspections: frequent and periodic.
How ehZee can help
As part of our crane inspections, we can review your rigging inventory, inspection records and storage practices, and point out gear that should be removed from service. We report what we found and what to fix first.
Common questions
How often do slings need a periodic inspection?
It depends on how often and how hard they are used, the manufacturer's instructions and your province's rules. Gear in heavy or harsh service needs more frequent inspection. Set the interval in your rigging program and record each inspection.
Can we make our own lifting slings or spreader bars?
Lifting devices must be designed and rated for the purpose. Shop-made lifting devices generally need engineering design, marking and testing. Do not use homemade rigging without that.