01/05/2025
Wire Rope Sling Safety Inspection Checkpoints
1. Identification Tag
- Sling must have a durable tag with size, rated load, type of rope, and manufacturer.
2. Broken Wires
- Check for broken wires, especially near end connections.
- Typically, if 6 randomly broken wires in one rope lay or 3 broken wires in one strand lay— remove from service.
3. Kinks or Birdcages
- Look for deformations like kinks, birdcaging, or crushing.
- These reduce strength and are reasons for rejection.
4. Corrosion
- Excessive rust or corrosion, especially near fittings or in the core, weakens the rope.
5. Wear
- Check for wear at bearing points (contact points with hooks, pulleys, etc.).
- Wear exceeding 1/3rd of the original wire diameter requires replacement.
6. Crushed, Flattened, or Deformed Rope
- Any major distortion leads to strength loss.
7. Heat Damage
- Discoloration (blue, brown) or welding spatters suggest the rope has been exposed to excessive heat.
8. End Fittings (thimbles, hooks, eyes)
- Check for cracks, deformations, wear, or broken attachments.
9. Core Condition
- If there is suspicion of internal core failure (e.g., rope feels loose or flat), the sling must be retired.
10. Frequency of Inspection
- Initial inspection: Before first use.
- Frequent inspection: Daily or before each shift (visual).
- Periodic inspection: At regular intervals based on usage (monthly, quarterly, etc.), by competent persons
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