B

Hitches & Sling Tension

Calculating Sling Tension
• Read SWL (Safe Working Load)
• Determine weight of Object
• Length of Slings
• Number of Slings
• Height from pick/pull point to shackle or hook

Length
= Load Factor
Height

Sling Tension = Load Factor x (Weight x ½)

Sling Tension is per sling

Hitches & Sling Tension
Length
= Load Factor
Height

Sling Tension = Load Factor x (Weight x ½)

Sling Tension is per sling 6/4=1.5

4’-0”
(12,000/2) x 1.5 = 9,000 lbs.
Load Factor Chart Tension per Sling = 9,000 lbs.
Leg Angle Multiplier
90° 1.000
85° 1.003
80° 1.015
75° 1.035
70° 1.064
65° 1.103
60° 1.154
55° 1.220
50° 1.305 Question:
45° 1.414 Can (2) 8,000 lbs. Slings safely lift this 12,000 lbs.
40° 1.555
35° 1.743
weight? DO NOT LIFT/PULL
30° 2.000
Sling Inspections
• Definitions
• Synthetic Slings
• Wire Rope & Chain
• Rigging Hardware
• Safety Measures
Sling Inspections
Synthetic Slings
• Made with nylon, polyester
• Design factor 5:1
• Avoid bunching when attaching to shackles and hooks
• Objects in the eye should not be more than 1/3rd the length of the eye Eye to Eye
• Slings will stretch when at their WLL {Working Load Limit}
• 6% increase for nylon slings
• 3% increase for polyester slings
• <1% increase for Aramid fibers
Continuous
Round

Amarid Fiber
Sling
Sling Inspections
Synthetic Slings Label Requirements
• Name of manufacturer
• Manufacturer code
• Rated loads for the types of hitches used and the angle
upon which the capacity is bases on
• Type of synthetic material
• Number of legs if more than one
Sling Inspections
Synthetic Slings Warnings
• Some manufacturers of web slings state that sling lose 10% to 15% of their strength when “WET”
• Can absorb chemicals which will derogate the sling
• Can not be exposed to temperatures below - 40º below zero
Dangerous
• Sunlight / ultraviolet light can derogate the sling
When
• Sharp edges are damaging to synthetic slings
Wet
And/or
Cold
Sling Inspections
Synthetic Sling Inspection
• Legible Identification tag - or clear
photographic database of tag with
corresponding ID tag on rigging
• Frayed or torn webbing
• Cuts
• Worn or broken stitching
• Abrasion
• Heat damage
• Chemical exposure

Note:
I you have not created the afore mentioned
Database for label tracking and tagged rigging
correlation, and you can not read the label
Do Not Use!
Sling Inspections
Synthetic Sling Eyelets
• Check the inside of the Eyelet
• Check for exposed stitching Always Check the
• Objects in eyelets should not be inside of the Eyelet
greater than 1/3rd the length of
the eyelet

Note:
To solve the problem of eyelet Check for stitching
stretching, use a shackle damage

Stitching ripped due to

sling angle tension
Sling Inspections
Wire Rope Slings

• Objects in the eyelets should not be greater than ½ the length of the eyelet

• Objects in eyelets should be at least the same diameter of the wire rope
EYE
WIRE ROPE

SOCKET OR SLEEVE
Sling Inspections
Wire Rope Slings
• Greater strength with minimum weight
• Shows warning signs of failure by the breaking of the outer wires
• 1910.184(f)(2)(i)
• Cable laid and 6 × 19 and 6 × 37 slings shall have a minimum clear length of wire
rope 10 times the component rope diameter between splices, sleeves or end fittings.
(Sling lengths need to be a minimum of 10 times the rope diameter)

Thimble
Sling Inspections
Grades of Wire Rope
• Many different grades to meet the varying demands for strength
• Tensile Strength: Level of minimum breaking force or minimum breaking load
• Plow Steel: (1570 N/mm²)usually tough and strong
• Improved Plow Steel: (1770 N/mm²) Stronger, tougher, and more resistant to wear than plow steel
• Extra Improved Plow Steel: (1960 N/mm²)
• Extra Extra Improved Plow Steel: (2160 N/mm²)

• PS: 1570 N/mm² = 227,700 psi

• EEIPS: 1570 N/mm² = 313,300 psi

Note: This is why we do not try to move or

rotate loads by holding the slings or chains.
54 mm rope = 2” rope
Sling Inspections
Wire Rope Parts

• Strand

• Wire

• Core

6x36 Means there are:

• 6 Strands
• Made up of 36 wires
Sling Inspections
Types of Wire Rope
• Most common types of wire rope Right Regular Lay
• Right Regular Lay
• Rotation Resistant
Left Regular Lay

Right Lang Lay

Left Lang Lay

Alternative Lay
Sling Inspections
Regular Wire Rope Inspection Criteria

Slings:
5 Broken Wires in 1 Strand in 1 Lay Length
10 Broken Wires randomly in 1 Lay Length

Lay Length

Lay Length: the distance it takes for one strand to make a full
revolution, from top to top of the same strand
Sling Inspections
Rejection criteria for Wire Slings
• Kinking
• Worn
• Bird-caging
• Corrosion
• Broken Core
• Loose, Crushed, or Cracked Sockets
• Cut or splintered wires
• Reduction of original diameter
• Exposed to excessive heat and/or
electric current
Sling Inspections
Measuring Wire Rope Diameter
• The actual diameter of a wire
rope is the diameter of a
circumscribed circle that will
enclose all the strands.
• It ‘s the largest cross-sectional
measurement as shown here.
You should make the
measurement carefully with
calipers.
Chain Inspections
Safety Factors for Wire Rope & Rigging
• Wire rope and rigging have safety factors built into their capacities
• Typically for most rigging, the factor under the hook is a Safety Factor of 5:1
• Hooks and Chain have a Safety Factor of 4:1

• Reasons for Safety Factors:

• Incorrect calculated weight of loads
• Shock loading
• Sling Tension angles
• Dynamic loads
Minimum Breaking Strength
Safety Factor =
Permissible Working Load

Minimum Breaking Strength

Permissible Working Load =
Safety Factor

12,500
Permissible Working Load = = 2,500 Lbs.
5
Chain Inspections
Make a thorough inspection of slings and attachments.
Items to look for include:
• Wear
• Defective welds
• Nicks, cracks, breaks, gouges, stretch, bends,
discoloration due to excessive heat
• Excessive pitting or corrosion
• Throat opening of hooks
• Missing or illegible sling identifications
• Conditions that cause doubt as to continued safe use of
the sling
Chain Inspections
Chain Sling Requirements
• Required Identification
• Name or trademark of manufacturer
• Grade of material
• Individual identification number
• Nominal chain size
• Number of legs if more than one
• Rated loads for the types of hitches used and the angle
upon which the capacity is based on
• Length {aka "REACH"}
Transport Chain G70
Electron transport chain is also referred to
as a tie-down chain, or binder chain with
increased hardening ability and improved
resistance to wear which allows greater
chain strength to weight ratio than Proof
Coil Chain Grade 30 and High Test Chain
Grade 43.
Stamped with “G70” on the link for easy
identified and finished by zinc plated or
yellow chromate. The yellow chromate
finish offers better corrosion protection
than other commercial link chains.
Rigging Hardware
Use of Shackles
• Used to gather slings or attach loads to
slings via lifting eyes
• Design factor of 5:1 for loads of 150 ton
• ASME B30.26-1.2(a)
• Design factor of 4:1 for loads over 150 ton
• ASME B30.26-1.2(b)
• Do you seat the pin, then use a pike or tool
to wrench down on the pin to make it tighter?
• Do you back off the pin a quarter turn ?

Required Identification:
• Name or trademark of manufacturer
• Rated load
• Size
Shackles (Continued)
• Diameter of shackle body
determines size, not the
diameter of the shackle pin
• Pin:
• Is oversized to provide
strength equal to or greater
than the shackle body
• Should fit free without
binding
Rigging Hardware
Side Loading Reduction
• In-Line load (0°) is applied at a right angle 0º - 5º
(perpendicular) to the pin.
• Do not side load round pin shackles 45º
(unthreaded pin without nut).
• Contact manufacturer for side load reduction

90º
Angle of side
load from Percent Rated
vertical In-Line of Load Reduction
Shackle

0º - 5º 0%
6º - 45º 30%
45º - 90º 50%
Over 90º Avoid
Shackle types (Continued)

Materials
• Alloy steel(grade B)
• Strong construction
• Carbon steel(grade A)
• Less strength, economical
• Stainless steel
• Good for marine use
Shackle inspection
Required identification:
• Name or trademark of manufacturer
• Working Load Limit
• Size
Shackle inspection
Removed from service for the following:
• Indications of heat damage, including weld spatter or arc strikes
• Excessive pitting or corrosion
• Bent, twisted, distorted, stretched, elongated, cracked, or broken
load-bearing components
• Excessive nicks or gouges
Shackle inspection - fail
• A 10% reduction of the original dimension at any point around the
body or pin
• Bow section exceeds 10% wear
• Incomplete pin engagement
• Excessive thread damage
• Evidence of unauthorized welding
Rigging Hardware
Using Shackles
• Which is the proper way to place a shackle
in a hook?

What is the possible danger

with this configuration?
Rigging Hardware
Shackles in Hooks
• You are allowed to use washers
to keep the shackle centered on
the hook

Incorrect: Correct:
Causes excessive Shackle Pin is
tension on the pin centered & level
Rigging Hardware
Non-Shouldered Eye Bolts
Eye bolts are only designed for
vertical loads. When loaded at
angles, a non-shouldered eye
bolt will bend or break.

LOAD
Rigging Hardware
Shouldered Eye Bolts
• Tapped blind hole on steel must be 1½ times
the diameter of the bolt (contact
manufacturer for other materials)
• ASME B30.26-2.9.4.2
• Maximum of 3 washers on machined
surfaces and eye bolts (when aligning eye
bolts to lift point)
• Used in various Construction Applications
• Machined
• Transformers
• Slabs of concrete
• Machinery STRAIGHT:
For vertical lifts only
Required Identification:
• Name, Trademark, or Manufacturer
• Size or Rated Load
SHOULDERED:
• Grade or Alloy
Can be used for angled lifts
Rigging Hardware
Shouldered Eye Bolts
• Direction of force

Load must be in line with Do not apply force

eye bolt perpendicular to the eye
bolt
Rigging Hardware
Shouldered Eye Bolts VERTICAL
• 5º ± from vertical does not reduce capacity LIFT

90º

5º 5º

45º

0º

UP TO 3 WASHERS
This concludes towing training
This is the beta version of it and
it will be further refined for FY25
Thank you for joining!