March 15, 1977 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

Armco Literature Shows How To Use And Inspect Wire Rope Slings

Wire rope slings are used in a multitude of applications for material handling. To promote safe working conditions and to comply with specifications set forth by ANSI B30.9 and OSHA, Armco Steel Corporation's Union Wire Rope engineers have suggested a standard inspection program and guidelines for the use and handling of wire rope slings.

For safe operation, all slings, including end fittings and attachments, should be given a visual inspection for damage each day before being used. To avoid any possible failure in service, a sling should be immediately removed from service when it exhibits any of the following conditions: 1. Ten randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or five broken wires in one strand in one lay.

2. Wear or scraping of onethird the original diameter of outside individual wires.

3. Kinking, crushing, birdcaging or any other damage resulting in distortion of the wire rope structure.

4. Evidence of heat damage.

5. Hooks that are opened more than 15 percent of the normal throat opening measured at the narrowest point or twisted more than 10 degrees from the plane of the unbent hook.

6. Corrosion of the rope or end attachments. Light surface rust can be wiped off with a rag or metal wire brush and does not require sling replacement. This kind of rust should be wiped off and the rope relubricated.

7. Extreme eye elongation. This indicates the sling has been loaded beyond its rated capacity.

Armco Steel Corporation's Union Wire Rope engineers suggest these guidelines for safer use and handling of wire rope slings: 1. Use any given sling only up to its rated load.

2. All loads should be lifted and lowered at a slow, uniform rate; never "shocked." 3. Always protect the slings from sharp corners. Sling protectors or even blocks of wood should be inserted between the sling and sharp, unyielding corners of the load.

4. Avoid dragging slings under or over loads. Spacers should be positioned to enable easy removal of slings from under loads.

5. Don't drop slings. Rather lower and lift them on their hooks.

6. Don't roll loads with slings.

7. Maintain slings by proper storage and lubrication.

8. Discard a sling if it is corroded or damaged.

9. Avoid extreme heat and corrosive atmospheres. Extreme heat (over 400°F for steel cored slings and 200°F for fiber cored slings) will cause considerable loss of strength.

10. Never exceed a sling angle of 60 degrees with the vertical.

When two or more sling legs are being used, the tension in each leg increases as the angle with the vertical increases. At 60 degrees, this tension is twice that of lifting in a vertical position.

To obtain the assistance of Union Wire Rope engineers at Armco's Kansas City producing plant for the selection of the right wire rope sling, contact W.E. Steimer, Armco Steel Corp., 7000 Roberts Street, Kansas City, Mo. 64125.

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