Using Rigging Equipment and Applying Basic Hitches
Selection follows from the load
Rigging choice depends on weight, geometry, center of gravity, attachment points, and the path the load must travel.
Slings. Wire rope resists abrasion and heat; chain handles sharp edges and elevated temperatures; synthetic web is light and non-marring but vulnerable to cuts and heat. Match the sling to the environment, not just to the weight.
Hooks and shackles. Hooks need a working latch and must be loaded in the saddle - never on the tip or the back. Side loading reduces a hook's rating dramatically. Load shackles along the pin-to-bow axis, seat screw pins fully, and mouse or safety-pin them where vibration can loosen the pin. Never substitute a bolt for a shackle pin.
Hitches in practice. Use vertical for a balanced load with one attachment point; choker when the sling must grip the load itself; basket to cradle a wide, stable load; bridle when attachment points are spread apart. A double-wrap choker protects the load and resists slipping.
Field practice. Keep the hook over the center of gravity, use a spreader beam when legs would crush the load, and use tag lines for control. Do not drag a load with a sling, pull a sling out from under a load, or leave a load hanging unattended.
Worked example
A 4 ft × 8 ft steel plate 1 in thick: 32 ft² × 40.8 lb/ft² per inch ≈ 1,300 lb. Two vertical legs carry about 650 lb each, so a 1-ton sling pair is adequate. If the same plate is choked, each leg must be rated near 650 ÷ 0.75 ≈ 870 lb - a different sling selection than the vertical case.