14 Essential Safety Standards for Using Lifting Slings and Rigging

When choosing sling specifications, the size, weight, shape of the load to be lifted, as well as the adopted lifting method and other factors that jointly affect the usage mode must be taken into account for calculation. The required limit working force must be provided, and the working environment and the type of load must also be considered. Appropriate length of slings with sufficient capacity and meeting the usage mode must be selected. If multiple slings are used simultaneously to lift the load, the same type of slings must be selected; the raw material of flat slings cannot be affected by the environment or the load. Whether attachments or soft lifting ears are needed, the end section and auxiliary attachments of the slings and the lifting equipment must be carefully matched.

When using flat slings with soft hitches, the minimum length of the hitch cannot be less than 3.5 times the maximum thickness of the hook in contact with the sling, and the swing angle of the hitch cannot exceed 20°. When connecting slings with soft hitches to lifting equipment, the contact part of the sling must be straight, unless the axial width of the sling does not exceed 75mm, and the bending radius of the lifting accessory must be at least 0.75 times the axial width of the sling.

Plan the lifting and handling procedures before starting the lifting operation.

The sling must be correctly placed and connected to the load in a safe manner. The sling must be placed on the load so that the load can evenly act on the width of the sling; it must never be knotted or twisted. The seam of the sling must not be placed on the hook or lifting equipment, and it must always be placed on the upright part of the sling. To prevent damage to the tag, it should be kept away from the load, the hook, and the locking angle during movement.

The limit working force of multiple combined sling is determined by the symmetry of the load they bear, that is, when lifting, the branches of the sling should be distributed symmetrically and uniformly according to the design, with the same vertical angle. For three combined slings, if the branches cannot be uniformly stressed according to the design, the maximum force will be on one branch, which will be the sum of the maximum load-bearing capacity of the branches close to the design angle. The same result applies to four combined slings. If it is not a rigid load, it will also be calculated in the same way. Note: For rigid loads, most of the gravity may be borne by three or even two of the branches, and the remaining branch only protects the balance of the load.

The sling should be away from sharp edges, friction, and wear. Whether it is away from the load or the lifting equipment, the appropriate parts of the sling should be strengthened and protected from damage caused by sharp edges and wear. Necessary additional strengthening protection is necessary.

During the lifting process, slings must be used safely in a secure manner. The load must not tilt or slip out of the sling; the sling must be placed directly above the center of gravity of the load and the Lifting Point to ensure the load is balanced and stable. If the center of gravity of the load is not below the lifting point, the sling during movement may cross the lifting point, causing danger.

If using basket lifting, the load can be safely lifted because there is no locking behavior like lock lifting, and the sling can be flipped through the lifting point. It is recommended to use two slings together, with the limbs of the sling suspended as vertically as possible, which is conducive to ensuring the load is evenly distributed among the branches.

When locking the flat sling, it should be allowed to be in a natural angle (120°) to avoid heat generation due to friction. The sling is neither in a forced position of strong force nor attempts to create a tight grip. The correct safe method is to use double locking of the sling. Double locking ensures safety and prevents the load from slipping out of the sling.

During the lifting operation, pay close attention to ensure personnel safety. Personnel in dangerous situations must be warned, and if necessary, immediately evacuate from the dangerous area. Hands or other parts of the body must be away from the sling to prevent injury when the sling is slack.

A demonstration method of lifting must be used. The sling should be lifted from slack to tight, and the load should be gradually lifted to the predetermined position. It is particularly important that during basket lifting or free tensioning, the frictional force bears the load.

If the load tends to tilt, the lifted object must be lowered to ensure the load is constrained, and the unexpected rotation of the load is guaranteed.

During lifting, it is necessary to ensure that the load is restrained to prevent accidental overturning or collision with other objects. Avoid dragging, pulling, or oscillating the load. Doing so will increase the load on the rigging. If the rigging is under load or the load is pressing on the rigging, it is not allowed to drag the lifting rigging on the ground or on rough surfaces.

When lifting, the load will descend under equal restraint conditions.

After the lifting operation is completed, the sling must be returned and stored properly; if it is not to be used again, it must be stored in a clean, dry, well-ventilated environment at room temperature, and placed on a shelf, away from heat sources, corrosive gases, chemicals, direct sunlight or other strong ultraviolet radiation. Prioritize the storage of items, and must check for any damage to the sling during use. Do not store a damaged sling that has already been used.

During lifting, if the sling is contaminated by acids or alkalis, it should be diluted with water or neutralized with the corresponding media recommended beforehand. Based on the material of the lifting sling and the relevant chemical properties reference, as well as the supplier's recommendation, used products that have no problems may be necessary. If the sling gets wet during use or due to cleaning reasons, it will be hung up and naturally dried.