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What is the best way to store a wire rope sling?

7 min read

Asked by: Danielle Barr

Keep your slings off of the ground and store them in a cool, dry, and dark environment. Avoid continued exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures and store them away from direct sunlight and UV exposure to prevent loss of strength. Keep your slings clean.

Where should sling be stored when not in use?

When not in use, slings should be stored in an area free from environmental or mechanical sources of damage, such as: weld spatter, splinters from grind- ing or machining, or sources of UV, heat, or chemical exposure, etc.

How do you protect a sling?

Sling wear pads can help to reduce damage to the sling by acting as a buffer between the load and the sling. When used with wire rope and chain slings, wear pads help protect both the sling and load from damage along points of contact.

How long are wire rope slings good for?

Make periodic inspections of wire rope slings at intervals no greater than 12 months. A good guide to follow includes: Yearly for normal service use, Monthly to quarterly for severe service use, and.

How do you store rigging?

Practice Proper Rigging Equipment Care & Storage

  1. Slings, shackles and clamps should be stored on racks (preferably vertical) and in designated locations when not in use.
  2. When synthetic slings are not in use, store them in a dark, cool, dry location, free from mechanical and environmental damage.

Is wire rope a sling?

Wire rope slings, sometimes referred to as wire cable slings are more robust and durable than nylon slings and also have higher temperature limits. Wire rope slings with an independent wire rope core (IWRC) can withstand contact and exposure temperatures up to 400 degrees (F).

What is an advantage of web fiber sling over wire rope?

Web slings are the most versatile and widely-used multi-purpose sling. They’re strong, easy to rig, and inexpensive. Compared to alloy chain slings, they’re more flexible and lighter and can be used to help reduce scratching and denting to loads.

How do you store Slings?

Keep Away From Extreme Heat or Cold



While slings made from wire mesh, rope, and alloy chain can tolerate extreme temperatures, they may degrade in quality and lose load capacity over time. All slings should be regularly checked for damage.

How do you protect sharp edges from slings?

Corner pads create a “tunnel” of protection for the sling around the edge of a load. Corner Protectors – Corner protectors are placed on the corners and edges of the load instead of on the sling itself to protect the sling from damage. Wear Pads – Wear pads act as a buffer between the load and the sling.

How do you properly sling a load?


Whether the connection is directly to the load with hardware or choker and basket hitches a horizontal sling angle of 60 degrees is the angle of choice.

What is a flat webbing sling?

Polyester flat webbing sling, 2 or 4-layer. The CONTECH® flat webbing sling is a polyester webbing consisting of 2 or 4 layers. At each end a reinforced eye is produced. The maximum capacity of 50 ton straight can be reached by positioning 2 webbings with a width of 300mm each next to each other.

What type of sling configuration would be suitable for long loose loads?

Double Wrap Basket Hitch – Similar to a standard basket hitch, except the sling is wrapped around the load twice. This provides excellent load control for loose materials and good grip on smooth surfaces.

Can lifting slings be washed?

The slings should be machine washed. Temperatures for washing and drying can be found on the product label. Drying should be done as soon as possible after washing, preferably with tumble dryer or in cabinet dryer.

Do slings expire?

Slings have a lifespan from date of manufacture of 10 years.

How often should slings be washed?

All slings are cleaned in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. All hoists and slings are inspected by a competent person every six months as outlined in the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)

How often should slings be replaced?

every 6-12 months

The frequency of services will depend on the type of lifting equipment you have, but usually they will be required every 6-12 months. If your sling fails the inspection, you are required by law to replace it.

What are the 3 types of slings?

Primarily, there are three types of slings – web slings, wire rope slings, and chain slings.



Let us discuss each of these three types of slings in more detail.

  • Web sling. …
  • Wire rope sling. …
  • Chain sling.


How do you inspect a wire rope sling?

Whether the broken wires are found in the body of the sling or the eye of the sling the sling will need to be removed from. Service the wire rope does not need to lay perfectly flat on the ground.

When should slings be inspected?

Each day before being used, the sling and all fastenings and attachments shall be inspected for damage or defects by a competent person designated by the employer. Additional inspections shall be performed during sling use, where service conditions warrant.

What is the maximum amount of wear permitted in a chain sling?

If wear exceeds 15 percent of the original diameter of the link, the chain should be removed from service. A 5 percent stretch on any link should be considered the maximum allowable.

What is the most common misuse of rigging?

With rigging hardware, what we’re talking about is items like hooks, links, shackles, turnbuckles, eye bolts, and hoist rings. The most common problems tie back to misuse and abuse and lack of inspection. Some of the most common issues we see are: Hooks with missing or broken latches.

What is the maximum temperature in Fahrenheit of a wire rope with an independent wire rope core?

IWRC Wire Rope Slings shall not be exposed to temperatures in excess of 400° F/ 204° C or below -40° F /-40° C. The Sling and load shall not be allowed to rotate when hand tucked spices are used in a single leg vertical lift application. Care should be taken to minimize sling rotation.

Can you choke a wire sling?

Never choke a load so that any part of one eye or splice is in the part of the sling that passes through the other eye to form the choke. Two notes of caution: Always pull a choker hitch tight before the lift is made. It should never be pulled down during the lift.

Are thimbles required for wire rope?

An Eye For an Eye; Wire Rope Thimbles



Anytime a wire rope is bent so it can be attached to a hanging point, there is a risk that a heavy load could crush the eye of the rope. The addition of a wire rope thimble to the eye protects the rope by guiding it into a natural curve and creating an extra layer of support.

How much can you wear on rigging hardware items?

Whenever wear at any point of any chain link exceeds that shown in Table H-1, the assembly shall be removed from service. Inspections.



Table H – 1. — MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WEAR AT ANY POINT OF LINK.

Chain size, (inches) Maximum allowable wear (inch)
1 3/8 9/32
1 1/2 5/16
1 3/4 11/32

What damage would you check for a shackle?

Damage to the Shackle’s Original Shape



If any shackle is more than 10% worn out of its original shape, it is deemed unsafe for use. You can visually inspect each shackle before use to check if there is an elongation or wear of the shackle eye and pinholes.

How much is a chain sling allowed to stretch?

Chain slings shall be removed from service when, due to stretch, the increase in length of a measured section exceeds five (5) percent; when a link is bent, twisted or otherwise damaged; or when raised scarfs or defective welds appear.