Material Handling
ยป Ropes, Chains, and Slings
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Ropes, chains, and slings are attached to loads that are being lifted or moved. Failure of
this equipment can cause the load to fall, injuring workers.
The following topics are addressed below:
Additional
Resources
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Natural
(Manila) and Synthetic Rope and Slings |
Potential Hazards:
Failure of slings due to abrasion, cuts, overloading, improper storage and use,
environmental conditions and chemical deterioration may
result in serious accidents.
Requirements and Example Solutions:
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The "safe working
load" of manila rope and manila rope slings must not be exceeded.
[1915.112(a)(1)]
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The safe working
load of conventional three-strand construction-fiber rope must not be exceeded.
[1910.184(h)(1)(i)]
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Splices and eye splices of fiber rope, manila rope, synthetic-fiber
rope slings must be in accordance with minimum
requirements and manufacturer's recommendations. [1910.184(h)(3)]
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Knots must not be used in lieu of splices. [1910.184(h)(3)(v)]
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Clamps not designed specifically for fiber ropes must not be used for splicing.
[1910.184(h)(3)(vi)]
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Fiber rope slings must not be used if end
attachments in contact with the rope have sharp edges or projections.
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Natural- and synthetic-fiber rope slings must be immediately
removed from service if any of the following conditions are present:
- Distortion of hardware in the sling. [1910.184(h)(5)(vi)]
Note: Only fiber rope slings made from new rope must be used. Use of
repaired or reconditioned fiber rope slings is prohibited. [1910.184(h)(6)]
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Figure 1: Spliced eye in natural fiber rope connecting an oval ring. |
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Synthetic Web Slings |
Potential Hazards:
Failure of slings due to broken stitching, perforations, burns, abrasion, cuts, overloading, improper storage and use,
environmental conditions and chemical deterioration may
result in serious accidents.
Requirements and Example Solutions:
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Slings must be marked with rating capacity. [1910.184(i)(1)]
- Fittings must be:
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Stitching must be used to attach end fittings to webbing and to form
eyes. [1910.184(i)(4)]
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The safe working load of synthetic web slings must not be exceeded. [1910.184(i)(5)]
- Precautions should be taken when selecting and using web slings around chemicals and in extreme temperatures.
[1910.184(i)]
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If repaired, slings must be in accordance with manufacturer's
specifications and proof tested. [1910.184(i)(8)(i)
and (ii)]
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Synthetic-web slings must be
immediately removed from service if any of the following conditions are
present:
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Figure 2: Capacity marking tag (white) on reinforced synthetic web sling. |
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Wire Rope and Wire-Rope Slings |
Potential Hazards:
Failure of slings due to broken wires, kinking, crushing, bird caging,
overloading, improper storage and use and environmental conditions may
result in serious accidents.
Requirements and Example Solutions:
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The safe working
load of wire rope and wire rope slings must not be exceeded. [1915.112(b)(1)]
- Wire-rope slings do not require identification tags.
- To determine the rating, the size and type of rope must be known.
- Protruding ends of strands in splices on slings and bridles must be
covered or blunted. [1915.112(b)(2)]
- Where U-bolt wire rope clips are used to form eyes:
- Number and and spacing of clips must be in accordance with Table G-6
of 1915.118.
[1915.112(b)(3)]
- The U-bolt must be applied so that the "U" section is in
contact with the dead end of the rope. [1915.112(b)(3)]
- "Never saddle a dead horse." -- Rigging Industry common phrase.
- Wire rope must not be secured by knots. [1915.112(b)(4)]
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Safe operating temperatures must not be exceeded. [1910.184(f)(3)]
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Wire rope slings must be immediately removed from
service if any of the following conditions are present:
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Ten randomly distributed broken wires in one
rope lay, or five broken wires in one strand in one rope lay. [1910.184(f)(5)(i)]
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Wear or scraping of one-third the original
diameter of outside individual wires. [1910.184(f)(5)(ii)]
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Kinking, crushing, bird caging, or any other
damage resulting in distortion of the wire rope structure. [1910.184(f)(5)(iii)]
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Evidence of heat damage. [1910.184(f)(5)(iv)]
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End attachments that are cracked, deformed, or
worn. [1910.184(f)(5)(v)]
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Hooks that have been opened more than 15 percent
of the normal throat opening measured at the narrowest point or
twisted more than 10 degrees from the plane of the unbent hook. [1910.184(f)(5)(vi)]
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Corrosion of the rope or end attachments. [1910.184(f)(5)(vii)]
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Figure 3: Ends of wire rope sling covered with compression fittings.
Figure 4: Correct way to apply U-bolts to form an eye in wire rope.
Figure 5: Illustrations of damaged wire rope. |
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Chains and Chain Slings |
Potential Hazards:
Failure of chains and chain slings are typically due to overloading,
sharp edges, environmental deterioration, and exposure to heat (for
example, from electrical arc, welding, and cutting torches). Use of damaged chains and
chain slings may
result in serious accidents.
Requirements and Example Solutions:
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The safe working
load of chains and chain slings must not be exceeded. [1915.112(c)(1)]
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All chain slings including hooks and fasteners, must be visually
inspection before use. [1915.112(c)(2)
and 1915.113(b)(3)]
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All chains and chain slings must be thoroughly inspected every 3 months
and tagged. [1915.112(c)(2)]
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Chain slings including hooks must be removed from service when
defective. [1915.112(c)(4) and
1915.113(b)(3)] This may include
components that are:
- Stretched
- Kinked
- Bent
- Twisted
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Repaired chains must be proof tested before returning to service. [1915.112(c)(5)]
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A load must not be lifted with a chain having a
kink or knot in it. [1915.112(c)(7)]
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A chain must not be shortened by bolting, wiring,
or knotting. [1915.112(c)(7)]
Additional Resources:
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Figure 6: Inspection of chain slings. |
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