This document discusses the basics of rigging, including different types of rigging materials and how to inspect them. It covers chain, synthetic, wire rope and mesh slings. Specific things to look for when inspecting each type are provided. It also discusses how sling angles affect load capacity and tension, and provides charts to determine these effects. Different types of sling hitches like vertical, bridle, basket and choker are illustrated and described. Hazard recognition for rigging operations and basic crane signals are also covered.

1. Basics
of
Rigging

2. Types of Rigging
• Chain-well suited for high
temperature, rugged loads, and
repetitive lifts under harsh
conditions. Chain slings can be
inspected, repaired, tested, and
recertified.
• Synthetic-good for protecting
finished surfaces.
• Wire Rope-most common,
lowest cost per ton for lifting
capacity
• Mesh-excellent for lifting objects
that are hot or have sharp
edges. Mesh slings enhance load
balancing due to wide load
bearing surfaces.

3. What to look for when inspecting synthetic slings
• Missing or illegible sling identifications
• Cuts, gouges, areas of extensive fiber
breakage along the length and abraded
areas on the rope
• Uniform fiber breakage along the major
part of the length of the rope in the sling
such that the entire rope appears covered
with fuzz or whiskers
• Fiber breakage or melted fiber inside the
sling that appears along the length at the
same relative position and involves
damage estimated at 10 percent of the
fiber in the strand at that point
• Discoloration and brittle or stiff areas on
any part of the sling,
• Foreign matter that has permeated the
rope and attracts and holds grit
• Kinks, distortion, or other damage in the
rope structure
• Melted or charred areas that affect more
than 10 percent of the diameter of the
rope or affect several adjacent strands
along the length to more than 10 percent
of their individual diameters
• Poor condition of thimbles or other
fittings manifested by corrosion, cracks,
distortion, or localized wear
• Other conditions that cause doubt as to
continued use of the sling

4. Synthetic slings

5. What to look for when inspecting wire rope slings
• Broken wires
• Severe localized abrasion or
scraping
• Kinking, crushing, bird caging, or
any other damage to the rope
structure
• Evidence of heat damage
• Crushed, deformed, or worn end
attachments
• Severe corrosion of the rope,
end attachments or fittings
• Missing or illegible sling
identifications
• Other conditions that cause
doubt as to continual safe use of
the sling

6. Wire rope

7. What to look for when inspecting chain slings
• Wear
• Defective welds
• Nicks, cracks, breaks, gouges,
stretch, bends, discoloration due
to excessive heat
• Excessive pitting or corrosion
• Throat opening of hooks
• Missing or illegible chain
identifications
• Other conditions that cause
doubt as to continued safe use
of the chain

8. Chain slings
Bent links Corroded links
Worn link ends
Bent, twisted,
Stretched hooks

9. What to look for when inspecting mesh slings
• Broken wires in any part of the mesh
• Broken weld or broken brazed joint along
the sling edge
• Reduction in wire diameter of 25 percent
or more due to abrasion or 15 percent or
more due to corrosion
• Lack of flexibility due to distortion of the
mesh
• Distortion of the choker fitting so that the
depth of the slot is increased by more
than 10 percent
• Distortion of either end fitting so that the
width of the eye opening is decreased by
more than 10 percent
• A 15 percent or more reduction of the
original cross-sectional area of any point
around the hook opening of the end
fitting
• Visible distortion of either end fitting out
of its plane
• Cracked end fitting
• Sling in which the spirals are locked or
without free articulation
• Fittings that are pitted, corroded, cracked,
bent, twisted, gouged, or broken
• Missing or illegible sling identifications
• Other conditions that cause doubt as to
continued use of the sling

10. Mesh slings
Broken joint
Corrosion
damage
Distorted end
fitting
Abrasion
Overload/
Uneven load

11. How to determine sling load from angle changes
• From the previous slide, you can see that the rigging angle greatly
affects how much tension is applied to the sling. The ideal angle for
the sling is 90o.
1) Determine sling angle and capacity.
2) From the chart on the previous slide,
determine the angle factor. For
example, for a #5000 capacity strap at
a 65o , you would multiply 5000 by
.906. The answer would tell you that
the strap is reduced to a capacity of
#4530
1) Determine sling angle.
2) Determine load weight.
3) From the chart on the previous slide,
determine the angle factor. For
example, for a #5000 with rigging at a
65o , you would multiply 5000 by
1.104.
4) The answer would tell you that the
tension on your rigging is increased to
#5520.

12. More on sling tension
• When determining sling angles and tension, and load weight,
remember that you can divide the load by the number of slings, as
long as every sling is the same length and at the same angle.

13. Vertical Hitch
• One eye is engaged directly to the
load while the other eye is
engaged to the hook.

14. Bridle Hitch
• Two or more legs coming from one
collection point.

15. Basket Hitch
• The sling surrounds the load while
each eye is engaged to the hook
(or hooks) above.

16. Choker Hitch
• The sling is passed around the
load and through one eye. The
remaining eye is engaged to the
hook

17. How angles affect the load
The angle at which a sling is used
significantly effects its capacity.
Use the longest reach possible for
completing the lift; this will
provide the largest angle possible
for minimum stress on the sling.

18. Angles affecting chokers

19. Angles affecting basket and bridle hitches

20. Hazard Recognition
Check for overhead obstructions and/or electrical lines
One designated signalperson
Inspect rigging prior to use
Verify rigging will support load
Construct danger tape barricade around lift area or swing radius
Ensure crane/forklift/hoist is inspected prior to use

21. Basic Signals
• Cable up/down
• Boom up/down
• Telescope in/out
• Swing left/right
• Cable up/down and hold load
• Boom up/down and hold load
• Move slowly
• Stop everything

22. Reference
• Liftex
• http://www.liftex.com/index.html
?page_id=163
• OSHA
• www.osha.gov