Web Sling Information

Care and usage

Both nylon and polyester webbing have a low water absorption rate, making them flexible, light, and easy to handle even after prolonged soaking in water. Both also show excellent resistance to most mildew and fungus, although dirt that accumulates on slings may support their growth, and that's why regular cleaning is very important.

Inspect your sling before each use since tensile strength may decrease with each use. Web slings should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place.

• Select a sling of suitable capacity. When in doubt, use a larger capacity sling.
• Do not run a sling around sharp corners without corner guards.
• Do not attach a sling to fittings that have sharp edges or corners.
• Avoid formation of knots or twists in the legs or sling body.
• Take up slack slowly to avoid shock loading the sling.
• Use a tag line on the load if necessary to prevent sling and load rotation.

Environmental/Chemical Factors

• Exposure to sunlight may cause mechanical or chemical damage.
• Nylon and polyester slings should not be used in temperatures in excess of 180 degrees Fahrenheit or -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Chemicals such as acids and alkalis affect the strength of slings in varying degrees ranging from none to total degradation. See chemical chart at right for specific information.

Reduction Factors

Web bridle slings can consist of two or more legs and provide excellent load stability when the load is equally distributed among all legs. Normally the leg with the smallest horizontal angle will carry the greatest load. That means you should use the smallest horizontal angle when you calculate the actual leg load and evaluate your sling’s rated capacity.

Adjusting choker hitch rated capacity

When a choker hitch is drawn tight at an angle of less than 120°, you’ll need to reduce the hitch’s rated capacity to allow for loss of rated capacity as the chart shows. Our tests have shown that when the angle was less than 120°, the sling body always failed at the point of choke when pulled to maximum. You must always allow for this anytime you use a choker hitch to shift, turn or control a load, or when the pull is against the choke in a multi-leg lift.

Consideration must be given to the angle at which a sling is to be used. Any angle from vertical will decrease the sling’s capacity. The amount of lost capacity is determined by the “sling to hook angle,” shown as Angle “A.” To calculate the capacity of a sling at an angle multiply the sling’s load rating by the appropriate factor in the “Sling Load Chart.” This will give you the sling’s reduced rated capacity.

Inspection intervals

Initial Inspection -  whenever the sling is initially received, altered, modified, or repaired.

Frequent Inspection - before each shift or day in normal service.Written records are not required for frequent inspections.

Periodic Inspection - an inspection done by a qualified and designated person and other than the person who performs the frequent inspections. Periodic inspection intervals should not exceed one year. Documentation that the most recent periodic inspection was performed shall be maintained.

The frequency of inspection depends on three important factors:

1. Sling usage - the more you use a sling, the more you need to inspect it
2. Working environment - the harsher the conditions, the more often you need to inspect.
3. Sling service life - based on your experience in using slings.

Removal Criteria

Following are some things to look for when inspecting a web sling for damage:

• Tears & Pulls are evident by the fabric being pulled away from the material pattern.
• Knots in a web sling reduces the capacity and causes wear on the fabric.
• Punctures happens when the sling comes in contact with load edges, causing a hole in the web fibers.
• Acid burns are visible due to a burning of the material.
• Weld Splatter causes the material to burn in a splatter design.
• Cut edges can cause the fabric to rip further and reduce the sling's weight capacity.

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