Rigging and Lifting Equipment
What You Must Recognise and Inspect
A dogger must identify, inspect and select lifting gear correctly. Know the common items: chain slings, wire rope slings, synthetic webbing slings, round slings, shackles (bow and Dee), swivel hoist rings, eye bolts, lifting beams, spreader bars, plate clamps, sling hooks and master links. For each, know the marking requirements - working load limit (WLL), unique identifier, grade, and manufacturer - and the rejection criteria: broken wires, kinks, bird-caging, corrosion, stretched or deformed shackles, worn or opened hooks, cuts, UV damage or chemical contamination on synthetics, illegible tags, and missing or damaged safety latches.
Configuration Changes Capacity
A critical concept: capacity depends on configuration. A choker hitch derates a sling; a basket hitch can increase capacity but only if the load is stable; multi-leg slings at angles share load unevenly and the angle factor matters. Shackle pins must be fully engaged and never side-loaded. Hooks must not be tip-loaded. Slings must be protected from sharp edges with packing.
Traps in Questions
Questions often present gear with a missing tag and ask if it can be used - the answer is no, unless it can be positively identified and proven. Another trap is assuming a higher-grade chain is always acceptable; grade mismatch between components is a rejection. Watch for 'the safety latch is missing but the hook looks fine'.
Rule of Thumb
If in doubt, tag it out. Never exceed the WLL, and never use a sling without a readable tag.
Worked Example
A 2-tonne synthetic round sling shows a deep cut through the outer sleeve exposing core fibres. Correct action: remove from service immediately, tag as defective and report - do not derate and use.