[RIGGER’S CORNER]
BEST PRACTICES for Maintaining Your Slings and Rigging Equipment
BY: MAZZELLA COMPANIES DO’S
DO make sure that you regularly inspect your slings before each use and before a change in lifting application.
DO check your slings for small particulates like dirt, stones, and debris. Tese cause friction and abrasion and can wear down a synthetic sling from the inside out. If you must clean your synthetic slings, use a clean cloth or rag and dip it in a small amount of dish soap and water to remove surface dirt or debris.
DO store your slings in a location that does not receive direct exposure to sunlight. Nylon and polyester materials can be significantly degraded by long-term exposure to sunlight and UV light.
NYLON AND POLYESTER SLINGS CHEMICAL COMPATIBILITY CHART
Nylon, polyester, and other synthetic fiber materials are especially susceptible to chemical damage. However, nylon and polyester each have their own unique resistance to certain chemicals, so special consideration should be given to the type of synthetic sling you use in a chemically- active environment.
DO contact the manufacturer if you have any questions about maintaining, storing, protecting, or cleaning your rigging equipment.
Acids Alcohols Aldehydes Strong Alkalis Bleach Agents
Dry Cleaning Solvents
Ethers No Yes Yes Yes No * Yes No **
If you work in an environment where multiple people handle slings, hardware, and other rigging equipment and want to protect yourself, follow World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines:
Yes Yes Yes
Halogenated Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons
Ketonnes Oils
(Crude) Oils
Yes Yes No
• Wash your hands frequently. Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Yes Yes Yes Yes
• Maintain social distancing. Keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and your co-workers.
Yes Yes (Lubricating)
Soaps & Detergents
Water & Sea Water
Yes Yes Weak Alkalis
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. y Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes
* Disintegrated by concentrated sulfuric acid
** Degraded by strong alkalis at elevated temperatures
As a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of a wide range of lifting products for industrial, commercial and specialty applications, Mazzella Companies also provides extensive learning resources through the Lifting & Rigging Learning Center at
www.mazzellacompanies/Resources/ Blog as well as comprehensive online, classroom and jobsite training through Lifting U at www.
mazzellacompanies.com/liftingu. Visit those websites to learn more!
Yes Yes
DO store your slings in a cool, dark, and dry environment away from moisture, extreme temperatures, chemicals, and mechanical devices.
DO keep your slings and rigging hardware organized and off of the ground. Slings that are organized and off the ground are easier to find and won’t be susceptible to damage from fork trucks or other vehicles in operation.
NYLON POLYESTER DON’TS
DO NOT use bleach, solvents, alcohol, or de-greasing solutions to clean synthetic fiber, or fiber core wire rope slings. Synthetic fibers, including nylon and polyester, are especially susceptible to degradation from strong chemicals found in solvents and cleaning agents.
DO NOT expose wire rope slings to soap, de-greasing solutions, or solvents. Tis will strip away internal lubrication. Wire rope lubrication is necessary to reduce friction between wires and strands and helps protect against internal corrosion.
DO NOT expose alloy chain, wire rope, fittings, or hardware to excessive water or moisture. Excessive moisture can speed up corrosion on non-stainless and non-galvanized metal surfaces, including slings, fittings, and hardware.
DO NOT power wash your slings. High-pressure water can cut and damage synthetic webbing material and can cause surface damage to slings, fittings, and hardware. High-pressure water can also cause broken wires on wire rope and metal mesh slings and cause surface damage like pitting, corrosion, and cracks on fittings and hardware.
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MARCH–APRIL 2020
WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE
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