Lifting slings are essential tools in many industries, designed to safely lift and transport heavy loads. Proper maintenance and storage are essential to ensure their longevity, reliability, and safety. Below are the best practices for maintaining and storing lifting slings, helping you get the most out of your equipment while minimizing risks.
Inspect on a Regular Basis
Regular inspections are important for safe and effective lifting sling usage. It’s important to check slings before every use and conduct more comprehensive inspections at regular intervals. All inspections are part of a safety asset management program and must have explicit performance standards that tested slings are compared against. Proactively identifying potential issues can prevent accidents, ultimately saving time, money, and lives.
- Pre-Use Checks: Routinely inspect for:
- Physical Damage: Slings with fraying, cuts, abrasions, broken stitching, burns, and visible chemical damage should be discarded.
- Surface Cleanliness: Stiff or discolored slings should be set aside for cleaning as this can indicate chemical exposure and unseen damage.
- ID Tag: Slings missing an ID Tag should be discarded immediately
- Maintenance Inspections: log dates and findings.
- Tests are selected based on usage frequency and environment.
- High-use or high-stress slings should be inspected more frequently.
- Post-Incident Checks: Examine sling and incident before re-use for:
- Extent of a potential overload
- Severity of environmental exposure
Follow Manufacturer Guidelines
Every lifting sling is manufactured with specific materials, capacities, and tolerances. Using slings outside their intended design can lead to dangerous failures. By staying within the guidelines, you reduce wear and tear and ensure safety during operations.Be sure to understand and apply the guidelines with respect to:
- Weight Ratings: Never exceed the Working Load Limit (WIL) of your sling.
- Configurations: Know the capacity for different configurations, including vertical, choker, or basket hitches.
- Environmental Restrictions: Some slings are designed for specific conditions, such as extreme temperatures or chemical exposure.
- Approved Accessories: Pair slings with the appropriate hooks, shackles, and other hardware recommended by the manufacturer to maintain safety.
Clean Slings Properly
Dirt, grime, and chemical exposure can weaken your slings over time, especially synthetic ones. Proper cleaning can help extend their lifespan. Cleaning also provides a good opportunity to inspect slings for hidden damage that might not be visible when they’re dirty.
- Wash with warm water and mild soap to remove dirt. Never use harsh chemicals or bleach.
- Scrub lightly: Gently scrub with a damp sponge or soft brush if needed Avoid abrasive brushes or high-pressure washers, as these can damage fibres.
- Rinse completely after washing to remove and soap contaminants
- Hang them to dry in a well-ventilated area, away from sunlight or heat sources. Never use tumble dryers
Protect Slings During Use
Lifting sling often endure harsh conditions during use, but damage can be minimized with proper precautions. Follow these four steps to increase the performance and longevity of your synthetic slings.
- Use Edge Protectors: Place edge protectors or wear pads on sharp corners of the load to prevent cuts, abrasion, or punctures in synthetic slings.
- Avoid Dragging: Never drag slings across rough or uneven surfaces, as this can fray synthetic fibres or scratch wire rope.
- Control the Load: Ensure the load is balanced and properly secured to avoid excessive tension on one part of the sling, which could cause stretching or failure.
- Protect from Extreme Conditions: High temperatures, UV radiation, and chemicals can weaken slings. If you’re operating in challenging environments, invest in slings specifically designed for those conditions.
Store Slings Correctly
Proper storage ensures that slings remain safe and ready for use. Improper storage can lead to unnecessary damage, reducing their lifespan and compromising safety. Proper storage not only extends sling life but also enhances efficiency during lifting operations. Best practices include the following three steps:
- Hang or Lay Flat: Store slings on racks, hooks, or shelves to avoid tangling or crushing. For chain or wire rope slings, ensure they are not coiled too tightly, which can cause kinks.
- Control the Environment: Keep slings in a clean, dry, and temperature-controlled area. Avoid storing them near windows or outdoors, where exposure to sunlight, rain, or extreme temperatures can degrade materials.
- Organise Storage Areas: Label racks or storage bins by sling type, capacity, or size to ensure easy identification and reduce handling mistakes.