SAFE WORK PRACTICE

SLING SAFETY
A. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OPERATORS 1. To ensure slings are used according to the capacity and intended application. 2. Must be familiar with standard types and capacities of slings. 3. Never tie a sling in a knot; or alter it in any way. 4. Always inspect the sling prior to each use and Never use a sling which is in questionable condition. B. APPLICATION Selecting a lifting sling requires the application of training, experience and attention to detail: The three most common types of slings are the nylon web type, the chain type, and the wire rope type. When lifting anything with sharp edges use a softener to protect the sling. When lifting bundles of pipe or tubing, if possible, use a spreader bar. When chain and cable are used in a choke application without a spreader bar the metal on metal sometimes has a tendency for the legs of the slings to move together, a nylon type tends to choke better and is preferred in this application. If moving bundles of material, such as pipe, always use a double wrap hitch.

C.

VISUAL INSPECTION Type: Nylon Web

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Inspect the condition of the sling for noticeable: 1. Wear, cuts, and tears: All slings used at our Company have a red and black thread weaved into the nylon type sling. These threads act as maximum wear markers. Any cut, rip, or tear which meet or exceed these markers immediately deem the sling unusable. 2. Excessive abrasion or burring: This includes the eyes and lifting contact surfaces. Abrasion or burring which meets or exceeds the wear markers immediately deems the sling unusable. 3. Exposure to extreme heat: Evident melting or charring deems the sling unusable. Extreme heat can make the sling brittle and reduce its strength. 4. Chemical Damage: Corrosive chemicals such as acids will distort or deteriorate the integrity of the sling deems it unusable. The negative effects of corrosive materials can be caused by fumes, vapours or direct contact. Note: Oils used by material suppliers to coat their product, coolants, cutting oils, are considered to be harmful to the physical condition of the sling. Any sling that is excessively dirty should be washed with warm, soapy water.

D.

INSPECTION APPLICABLE TO CHAIN TYPE SLINGS 1. Master link a) Elongation: Parallels should be equal distance apart; a lesser measurement of the center portion of the master link suggests elongation. Center measurement should be no more than 3/32 less than ends. b) Excessive Wear: 1/8 of link diameter is maximum wear. i.e.: .500 link maximum wear .0625 Cracks: Surface cracks no more than 1/8 link diameter may be ground out. c) Evidence of Weld Spatter: Weld spatter on surfaces that are stationary may be ground off.

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2. Upper Connecting Link a) Smoothness of Movement: Move link back and fourth, restriction of movement and sloppiness are not acceptable. Replace pin if required. b) Excessive Wear: No more than 1/8 of link diameter wear is acceptable. c) Swivel Pin - Excessive Play: Weld spatter that restricts movement of swivel require swivel replacement.

3. Thimble Eye a) Excessive Wear: Maximum wear 1/8 of thimble wall thickness. Cracks: Any crack requires replacement of the eye, due to thin wall structure. Deformation: 10% deformation is allowable providing intended use and application do not impede the intended purpose of the eye.

b) Evidence of Weld Spatter: Weld spatter on surfaces that are stationary may be ground off.

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E.

INSPECTION APPLICABLE TO WIRE ROPE (ACCORDING TO ANSI B30.9) 1. a) Strand Core Protrusion: Strand Core Protrusion will lead to wire fracture. Core protrusion results in distortion of the rope structure and requires replacement.

b) Bends, Kinks: Considered distortion of the rope structure and therefore requires replacement.

c)

Bird Caging: Considered distortion of the rope structure and therefore requires replacement.

d) Excessive Wear: Severe localized abrasion or scrapping for strand laid and single part slings. Six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or three broken wires in one rope strand in one rope lay requires replacement.

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2. Lower Connecting Link a) Refer to section IV, number 2. Upper Connecting Link. 3. Lower Thimble Eye a) Refer to section IV, number 3. Thimble Eye. 4. Hook

a) Eye Wear: 1/8 eye structure diameter maximum wear. Eye Cracks: 1/8 penetration allowable, must be ground out. Eye Elongation: 5 - 10% out of round acceptable.

b) Evidence of Weld Spatter: Weld spatter on stationary surfaces may be ground off. c) Evidence of Grinding: Grinding may not penetrate more than 1/8 of the diameter of structure. i.e.: 1 structure = 1/8 maximum grind penetration. d) Hook Body - Throat Opening: Visually inspect the shape of the hook body. Measure from the shank eye to the hook tip. Dispose of any hook whose throat opening has been increased, or whose tip has been bent more then 10o out of plane from the hook body, or is in any other way distorted or bent. (Refer to Crosby Catalogue for reference specs.).

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e) Elongation: Deformation of throat opening will detect elongation. Wear: Maximum wear 10% of diameter of hook load surface. 5. Throat Latch a) Pin - Alignment - Straightness: Judgment call - excessive misalignment or kink will not allow latch to function properly, which deems repair or replacement. b) Spring - Proper Tension: Visual - improper tension will insecurely close latch, which deems repair or replacement. c) Latch - Evidence of Damage: Bends or cracks require latch to be replaced.

F.

SLING REPLACEMENT When a Nylon Web Sling is determined, it is no longer useable: 1. An Supervisor must go to the cage and exchange the unusable sling for a new one. 2. If the requirements of an area suggest more slings are needed: a) The Supervisor must go to the cage and pick up the required sling/s.

Note: No sling or lifting device will be down rated. i.e.: Any sling that has a lifting capacity of 1200 lb. vertical lift, which has sustained a 25% tear cannot be rated for 25% less capacity.

3. To replace or purchase a Cable or Chain Type Multi-Leg Sling: a) Complete a Purchase Request Form, include all required signatures.

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b) Make sure the sling type, size, and supplier is recorded accurately on the Purchase Request Form. c) Forward the Purchase Request Form to Small Tool Repair. d) Small Tool Repair will forward the Request Form to the designated sling purchaser. e) When the sling is received it will be inspected by Small Tool Repair to ensure it is what was ordered, and distributed to the required area or department. f) Small Tool Repair will engrave the purchase order number (stamp) on the back of the suppliers parts rating tag. G. DISPOSAL 1. Any sling which is deemed unfit for any type of lifting will be cut up and disposed of. 2. Slings which have met the maximum wear capacities will be given to Security by a designate from the cage. 3. Any person wanting a sling for personal use must see Security.

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