Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use
Core concepts
A candidate must match sling type to load and environment: wire rope for abrasion and heat, chain for sharp edges and harsh conditions, synthetic web for soft or finished loads, and synthetic round slings for flexibility. Know the identification tags and the removal criteria for each type. For wire rope, broken wires, kinking, bird-caging, and core protrusion are rejectable. For chain, watch for stretched links, cracks, gouges, and wear exceeding the allowed reduction. For web and round slings, cuts, burns, ultraviolet degradation, and missing tags mean removal from service.
Traps to watch
Questions love to test whether you know that a damaged or missing tag makes a sling unusable, regardless of appearance. Another trap is hitch type: a choker reduces capacity compared with a vertical hitch, and a basket hitch can nearly double it, but only with proper leg angle. Edge protection is a frequent theme-sharp edges require padding or a different sling type. Beware distractors that suggest "field repair" of a sling; damaged slings are retired, not mended.
Worked example
A synthetic web sling rated 6,000 lb in a vertical hitch is used in a choker. Applying the standard choker derating of 0.8 gives 4,800 lb capacity. Rule of thumb: confirm the hitch factor from the sling's tag or manufacturer data before lifting, and always inspect the full length, not just the visible section.