SLINGS, CHAINS AND

LIFTING GEAR
Training
Program

Blair Athol Coal Project

 LEARNING OUTCOMES
Participants will be able to outline the
safety guidelines for the use of slings,
chains and lifting gear by;
 Describing the general use and handling of
lifting gear, including safe working loads
 Identifying the signs to look for when
checking equipment
 Outlining the correct storage of equipment.

Blair Athol Coal Project

 Slings, Chains and Lifting
Gear
Slings, chains and lifting gear will fail if
they are damaged, overloaded, worn,
stretched or poorly maintained.
 DO NOT lift unless you have the correct
gear
 DO NOT lift if you can not make a
reasonable estimate of the weight of the
load.
Blair Athol Coal Project
 GENERAL
HANDLING AND USE

 Any Steel Wire Rope, Chain or Sling

found in an unsafe condition must have
an Out of Service Tag applied and
returned to the Manufacturer or destroyed
and disposed.
 Lift only within the Safe Working Load
(SWL) - the maximum load that can be
lifted by the equipment
Blair Athol Coal Project
 GENERAL
HANDLING AND USE

 Use lagging or packing to prevent sling

from contacting sharp edges
 Use spreaders or double wrap lengths of
timber, pipe or steel before lifting
 Check loads are balanced prior to lifting

Blair Athol Coal Project

 GENERAL
USE AND HANDLING

 The horizontal distance between points of

attachment should not exceed the length of
the slings
 Use a tag line to guide movements of load.

Blair Athol Coal Project

 SLINGS

 Check the SWL of the sling

 Check condition of sling before use for
abrasions, cuts and contusions, internal wear
indicated by thickening of the sling
 Check for damage to the label or stitching,
eyes / end attachments or protective coating.

Blair Athol Coal Project

 SLINGS

Discard sling if it has;

 Lost 10% of it’s original breaking strength
 Label has been removed or disfigured
 come in contact with corrosive substances.

Blair Athol Coal Project

 SLINGS

Storage of Slings;
 Keep in a dry, clean, well ventilated area
away from heat / sunlight / chemicals
 Store off the ground
 Away from possible mechanical damage.

Blair Athol Coal Project

 CHAINS

 Chains are only as strong as it’s weakest link

Check the SWL on the tag attached to the
chain - tags also include grade, manufacturer
and conditions for use
 Always use chains and accessories of the
same grade and SWL
 Do not lift a load heavier than the SWL

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 CHAINS

 Do not use chains if links are stretched,

locked, damaged or do not move freely
 Do not twist or knot a chain
 Do not drag chain while under a load
 Do not drop chain from a height
 Do not roll loads over chain
 Check for significant increases in length.

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 STEEL WIRE ROPE (SWR)

 Do not lift heavier than the SWL

 Check for wear and tear before use
 Keep SWR away from corrosives
 Store clear of the ground in a clean dry area
 Apply lubricant (a medium viscosity black
oil) when necessary.

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 STEEL WIRE ROPE
Place SWR Out of Service and Discard if
there are signs of;
 Abrasion or core collapse
 Poorly maintained or aligned sheaves
 Kinks or fractures
 Crushed or jammed strands
 Birdcaging or high stranding
 Corrosion or fatigue.

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 ACCESSORIES

The SWL of all lifting gear (including

accessories), is only as great as the piece
of equipment with the lowest SWL.

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 HOOKS

 Should be fitted with a safety catch

 Check the SWL stamped on the hook
 Use a hook with a SWL the same as the
chain SWL being used
 Ensure the hook opening is wide
enough to accept the largest lifting gear

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 HOOKS

 Ensure the bight is rounded so as not to

damage slings
 Crane hooks must be able to rotate at
all times
 Place Out of Service and discard any
hook which is bent, stretched (>5%) or
distorted.

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 RINGS

 Ensure the SWL of rings are the same as

chains / hooks etc.
 Place Out of Service and discard rings
which have stretched (>5%)
 Rings must hang freely over crane hooks.

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 SHACKLES

 Check SWL stamped on shackle

 Use shackles with the same SWL of
chains / links / rings etc.
 Use only the correct pin for the shackle
 Place Out of Service and discard worn
shackles (>10%), deformed or damaged

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 SHACKLES

 Finger tighten shackles and release a

quarter turn
 Use a bow shackle when connecting
several sling eyes.

Blair Athol Coal Project 1

 SWIVELS

 Swivels prevent chain or rope from

twisting and allow them to untwist
 Check SWL of swivel prior to use
 Place Out of Service and discard
swivels that are worn, damaged or
deformed.

Blair Athol Coal Project 2

 ASSESSMENT
 The condition of lifting gear need only be
inspected yearly - True or False?
 What must be checked prior to lifting a 10
tonne load using chain and SWR?
 The SWL of a 50 tonne SWR and a 30 tonne
chain equals 80 tonnes - True or False?
 Where should lifting gear and accessories be
stored when not in use?

Blair Athol Coal Project 2