INTRODUCTION

WARNING: Do not use, or allow the use of the products in this catalog, unless the user has read and understands the applicable instructions and product warnings. Information available upon request.
SAFE LIFTING RISK MANAGEMENT
As a service to our customers, we offer assistance in Our products are often used in work environments that can be dangerous. Although
establishing and maintaining programs for safe lifting. total elimination of risk is all but impossible, it can be managed. By definition, risk
management is a comprehensive set of actions which reduces the risk of a problem,

• Selection
Choosing the right product for the job is always
important. This is particularly so in lifting applications.
With combined experience in excess of 200 years, our
customer service staff will help you make the right
choice.
• Inspection
Sling inspections are available to all sling users.
• Training
Seminars are provided in an effort to familiarize
end users with safe rigging practices in accordance
with industry best practices, OSHA regulations, and
the latest ASME B30.9 guidelines, i.e., “. . . sling users
shall be trained in the selection, inspection, cautions
to personnel, effects of environment, and rigging
practices . . .’
• Commitment To You
American Rigger’s Supply offers the highest
quality products available. Quality is carefully
monitored—from purchased materials and product
verification, through order picking and fabrication, to
the final inspection prior to shipment. We offer pro-
ducts that meet or exceed industry and government
requirements. Our testing and inspection capabilities
allow us to verify compliance with today’s high
standards.
a failure, or an accident. We refer to this set of actions as a basic rigging plan. The
following is a list of questions requiring answers prior to making any lift.
• The Basic Rigging Plan
Who is responsible (competent) for the rigging?
Are communications established?
Is the equipment the appropriate type?
Is the equipment properly identified?
Is the equipment in acceptable condition?
Are the working load limits adequate?
What is the weight of the load?
Where is the center of gravity?
What is the sling angle?
Will there be any angular or side loading?
Are slings padded from sharp edges?
Will the load be under control?
Is the load rigged to the center of gravity?
Is the hitch appropriate?
Is a tag line needed?
Is there any possibility of fouling?
Is the pathway clear of obstruction?
Are all personnel clear of the load?
Are there any unusual loading or environmental conditions?
Are there any other special requirements?
This catalog is designed to familiarize our customers with some of the
information required to answer these questions and formulate a rigging plan.

2
913.371.1357
1.800.952.8658
FAX 913.371.8547

AMERICAN
RIGGER’S
SUPPLY, INC.

1010 Kansas Ave.

Kansas City, KS
66105
 INTRODUCTION
WARNING: Do not use, or allow the use of the products in this catalog, unless the user has read and understands the applicable instructions and product warnings. Information available upon request.
SLING APPLICATION

• Hitches
Every lift uses one of three basic hitches:
1. Vertical – The vertical, or straight, attachment is simply using a sling to connect
a lifting hook or other device to a load. Full rated load of the sling may be used,
but never exceeded. A tagline should be used on such a lift to prevent rotation,
which can damage the sling. A wire rope sling with a hand-tucked splice can
unlay and fail if the sling is allowed to rotate.

2. Choker – Choker Hitch configurations reduce the rated capacity of a sling by

20 to 25 percent. If a load is hanging free, the normal choke angle is
approximately 135°. When the choke angle is less than 120°, an adjustment in
the choker rated capacity must be made (see illustration below). Extreme care
should be taken to determine the choke angle as accurately as possible.
As indicated in the table below, the decrease in rated capacity is dramatic.

Choker Hitch

RATED CAPACITY ADJUSTMENT

Choke IWRC and Fiber Core Rope

Angle Percent of
(Degrees) Choker Rated Capacity
Over 120 100
90 – 120 87
60 – 89 74
30 – 59 62 Angle Adjustment
Up to 29 49 Rated capacity adjustment for slings in choker hitch
when angle is less than 120.° Choke angles greater
than 135° are unstable and should not be used.

3. Basket – Basket hitches distribute a load equally between the two legs of a
sling, within limitations imposed by the angles at which legs are rigged to the
load (see discussion of sling angles).

Basket Hitch

CAPACITY ADJUSTMENT 3
913.371.1357
Percent
1.800.952.8658
Angle of Single Leg
FAX 913.371.8547
(Degrees) Capacity
90 200 AMERICAN
A basket hitch has twice the capacity of a single leg RIGGER’S
60 170 only if legs of sling are vertical. and only if D/d ratio is
SUPPLY, INC.
45 140 25:1 and it is vertical. D/d > 25:1 per ANSI B30.9.
30 100 1010 Kansas Ave.
Kansas City, KS
66105
 INTRODUCTION

WARNING: Do not use, or allow the use of the products in this catalog, unless the user has read and understands the applicable instructions and product warnings. Information available upon request.
• Sling Angle
Sling Angle (also called angle of loading) is the Angles and Load
angle measured between a horizontal plane and
the sling leg or body. This angle is very important
and can have a dramatic effect on the rated
capacity of the sling (see illustration below). As
illustrated at right, when this angle decreases, the
load on each leg increases. This principle applies
whether one sling is used to pull at an angle, in a
basket hitch, or for multilegged bridle slings. Sling
angles of less than 30° shall not be used.
Sling Angles

Angles and Stress

How do you carry two buckets of water? These
illustrations typify the stresses imposed on slings when
the legs are attached to the load at various angles.

Load Angle Factor

Sling Angle Load Angle

Degrees (A°) Factor = L/H
90 1.00
60 1.155
50 1.305
45 1.414
30 2.00
LOAD ON EACH LEG OF SLING =
(Load ÷ 2) x LOAD ANGLE FACTOR
ANSI B30.9 recommends against the use of a
horizontal sling angle smaller than 30.°

4
913.371.1357
1.800.952.8658
FAX 913.371.8547

AMERICAN
RIGGER’S
SUPPLY, INC.

1010 Kansas Ave.

Kansas City, KS
66105
 INTRODUCTION
WARNING: Do not use, or allow the use of the products in this catalog, unless the user has read and understands the applicable instructions and product warnings. Information available upon request.

• Reeving
Reeving through connections to load increases load on
connections fitting by as much as twice.
Do not reeve!

• Triple and Quad Leg Slings

Triple leg slings have 50% more capacity than double leg only
if the center of gravity is in center of connection points and the legs
are adjusted properly (equal share of the load).
Quad leg slings offer improved stability but do not provide
increased lifting capacity.

CENTER OF GRAVITY (COG)

The location of the center of gravity to the pick points is an
important consideration.

• COG and Sling Loading

When lifting vertically, the load will be shared equally if the
center of gravity is spaced equally between the pick points, as in the
first illustration at right. If the weight of the load is 10,000 lbs., then
each sling will have a load of 5,000 lbs. and each shackle and eyebolt
will also have a load of 5,000 lbs.
When the center of gravity is not equally spaced between the
pick points, as in the second illustration, the slings and fittings will
not carry an equal share of the load. The sling connected to the pick
point closest to the center of gravity will carry the greatest share of
the load. Sling 2 is closest to COG. It will have the greatest share of 5
load. 913.371.1357
Sling 2 = 10,000 x 8 / (8+2) = 8,000 1.800.952.8658
FAX 913.371.8547
Sling 1 = 10,000 x 2 / (8+2) = 2,000
AMERICAN
RIGGER’S
SUPPLY, INC.

1010 Kansas Ave.

Kansas City, KS
66105
 INTRODUCTION

SLING INSPECTION
PROGRAM
Based on ASME B30.9—2003
The inspection process for slings is one
requiring ongoing effort from the time a product
arrives until it has been deemed unfit for use. The
following is a breakdown for the types of
inspection required.
WARNING: Do not use, or allow the use of the products in this catalog, unless the user has read and understands the applicable instructions and product warnings. Information available upon request.
Initial and frequent inspections are relatively straightforward in terms of how
often they are done. Periodic inspection is required a minimum of once a year. You may
want to perform written inspections more frequently and track rejection rates until a
baseline can be established and goals can be set. If a good job is done on the frequent
inspections, you may find that an annual periodic is sufficient.
ASME B30.9 requires tagging of all slings. The inspection process should begin with
making sure that each sling has proper identification. The criteria for inspection can be
found on the following pages. A sample survey sheet is also included.

Types of Inspection:

(a) Initial Inspection. Before using any new or

• Synthetic Web Slings
Inspection: Each day before and during use where service conditions warrant, the
repaired sling, it shall be inspected to ensure
sling and all attachments shall be inspected by a competent person and removed from
that the correct sling is being used, as well as
service if damage or defects such as the following are visible:
to determine that the sling meets ASME
1. Missing or illegible rated capacity tag
standards.
2. Cuts, snags, holes punctures, or tears in any part of the webbing
(b) Frequent Inspection. This inspection should
be made by the person handling the sling each 3. Excessive abrasive wear

day the sling is used. 4. Broken or worn threads in the stitching

(c) Periodic Inspection. conducted by designated
personnel. Frequency of inspection should be
based on:
(1) frequency of sling use
(2) severity of service conditions
(3) experience gained of the service life of
5. Melting or charring in any part of the sling
6. Acid or caustic burns
7. Broken, cracked, distorted, pitted, or corroded fittings
8. Any modification or alteration such as knots or tying slings together
9. Other conditions, including visual damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use

slings used in similar appliactions of the sling

Periodic inspections should be conducted at

least annually with a written record of each • Alloy Chain Slings
sling’s condition, utilizing the identification Inspection: It is important to inspect slings regularly. Clean slings so that marks,
for each sling as established by the user. nicks, wear, and other conditions can be seen. Each chain link and component should
be individually inspected for the following conditions:

1. Missing or illegible tag

Wear Allowances
2. Twists or bends
For CM Herc-Alloy 800 Chain 3. Nicks or gouges
Chain Size Min. Allowable
(inches) Thickness (inches) 4. Excessive wear at bearing points (refer to wear allowance chart
6 7/32 .189 5. Cracks
913.371.1357 9/32 .239
6. Stretch
1.800.952.8658 3/8 .342
FAX 913.371.8547 7. Evidence of heat damage
1/2 .455
AMERICAN 5/8 .546 8. Distorted, worn, or damaged master links, coupling links, or attachments, especially
RIGGER’S spread in throat opening of hooks
SUPPLY, INC.
9. Other conditions, including visual damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use
1010 Kansas Ave. of the sling
Kansas City, KS Each link or component having any condition listed above is to be marked with
66105
paint to plainly indicate rejection and removed from service until properly repaired.
 INTRODUCTION
WARNING: Do not use, or allow the use of the products in this catalog, unless the user has read and understands the applicable instructions and product warnings. Information available upon request.

• Wire Rope Slings • Wire Mesh Slings

Inspection: No precise rules can be given for the determination of the exact time Inspection: Remove the sling from service if
for replacement of a sling since many variable factors are involved. Safety in this any of the following is visible:
respect depends largely upon the use of good judgement of an appointed person in
1. A broken weld or brazed joint along the sling
evaluating remaining strength in a used sling after allowance for deterioration disclosed
edge
by inspection. Safety of sling operation depends on this remaining strength.
2. A broken wire in any part of the mesh
Conditions such as the following should be sufficient for questioning sling safety
and for consideration of replacement: 3. Reduction in wire diameter of 25% due to
abrasion or 15% due to corrosion
1. Ten randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or five broken wires in one
strand in one rope lay 4. Lack of flexibility due to deterioration of the
mesh
2. Wear or scraping of one-third the original diameter of outside individual wires
5. Visible distortion or wear of either end fitting
3. Kinking, crushing, bird caging, or any other damage resulting in distortion of the rope
structure 6. Cracked end fitting

4. Evidence of heat damage 7. Other conditions, including visual damage,

that cause doubt as to the continued use of
5. End attachments that are cracked, deformed, or worn
the sling
6. For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10

7. Corrosion of the rope or end attachments

8. Missing or illegible tag

9. Other conditions, including visual damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use
of the sling

• Synthetic Round Slings

Inspection: Before each lift, inspect the sling for the following signs of damage.
If any are present, remove the sling from service.

1. Missing or illegible identification tag

2. Melting, charring, or weld splatter on any part of the sling

3. Holes, tears, cuts, abrasive wear, or snags that expose the core yarns

4. Knotting

5. Acid or alkali burns

6. Other conditions, including visual damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use
of the sling
7
913.371.1357
1.800.952.8658
FAX 913.371.8547

AMERICAN
RIGGER’S
SUPPLY, INC.

1010 Kansas Ave.

Kansas City, KS
66105