[RIGGER’S CORNER] INSIGHT from the Industry
Q. How often do you replace polyester round slings, and what do you do with
rejected rigging? – Will Dunn, Lifting Equipment Store, UK
A. It depends on the amount and level of use. In construction settings round slings may get replaced 3 times a year. In heavy industrial use they might
replace their round slings 2 times per year since they use more sling protection. In nuclear type environments they
might replace less than 20% of their round sling inventory due to sling protection and lack of regular use. Of the high capacity round slings in the 50,000 lbs capacity or greater range they might only have average replacement of less than 5% per year since they pay special attention to sling protection. T ese are often used for critical lifts and they are handled with kid gloves.
– Mike Parnell, President, Industrial Training International,
www.iti.com
A. As far as the lifespan, the end user should consult criteria for removal from the manufacturer or WSTDA, if possible. I typically recommend no more than a four-year lifespan on any sling if it is in use regularly.
I would say that sling removal depends on a combination of the age of the sling and its usage on a daily or monthly basis. Slings that need to be removed from service should be cut in half and disposed of in the trash bin.
– Todd Negus, President, OSP Sling,
www.ospsling.com
A. T is is a really hard question—it all depends on the number of cycles and the severity of use. I use a general rule of 250 cycle times. By then, they are usually shot for one reason or another. It is then the responsibility of the customer to slice them up and throw them into the landfi ll.
– Fred Ambli, VP of Research & Development, LiftPRO International
www.liftpro.com
A. In Ontario, Canada, all overhead lifting devices must be inspected and recertifi ed annually. T e criteria for rejection are indicated in manuals and through the WSTDA. I have never found—and, apparently,
there is not—an indicated and/or regulated lifespan for nylon/polyester slings (including polyester and kevlar round slings). To stipulate an “automatic out-of-service lifespan” would have to accommodate the diff erent geographical regions with regard to sunlight (UV) exposure and related infl uences. T e best answer is to partner with an experienced inspector who is looking out for the fi nancial wellbeing of your company as well as the physical safety of the employees.
Always dispose of rigging responsibly.
Cut the eyes out of wire rope and synthetic slings. Torch the chain
sling legs and disassemble hardware components before discarding. Have these practices written (product- specifi c) into your corporate policy so that you are able to defend yourself. Spot-check the bin (and record the date, time, and contents) to ensure that employees are strictly enforcing this policy.
– Cliff Black, Vice President, Spartan Sling Mfg.,
www.spartansling.com
A. Web slings should be immediately removed from service if the capacity/ sling identifi cation tag is missing or not readable. T e sling should be inspected before each shift or day in normal service and before each use in severe service applications. Furthermore, web slings that are used outdoors regularly should generally be permanently removed from service within a period of two to four years. Slings that are removed from service should be destroyed and rendered completely unusable. WSTDA has a Web Sling Safety Bulletin that explains the inspection, care, and use of synthetic web slings. For further information, visit
www.wstda.com.
– Robert S. Jasany, Technical Coordinator, Web Sling & Tie Down Association,
www.wstda.com ❙
Wire Rope Exchange: Thank you to Jim Bailey, President of Filtec-Precise (
www.fi ltec-precise.com), for helping us gather thoughts from the industry.
80
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012
WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE
photo courtesy of OSP Sling
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