• Never stand beneath a load or in the path of a moving load or an AGV.

• Store rigging equipment in a dry, protected environment.

Although basic safety rules are important, proper rigging also benefits from having employees understand the forces involved in moving loads. Motion, gravity and the strength of materials all affect how safely and smoothly a load can be moved.

To select the right rigging equipment for the job, employees must

Over time, stress on wire rope wears a individual wires and elongates the strands. Measure wire rope from the top of one strand to the top of the strand directly opposite it, rather than across two strands side by side.

Equipment Inspection

Measure wire rope from the top of one strand to the top of the strand directly opposite it, rather than across two strands side by side. Rope manufacturers also recommend measuring the rope at three places, at least 5 ft. apart, and using the average of the three measurements.

Rope also can become damaged from repeated dragging over surfaces. A common cause of rope damage is repeated passing of the rope over a drum or through a block. Generally, abrasion resistance depends on the type and hardness of the metal alloy used to construct the rope and the size of the individual outer wires—ropes with larger wires better resist wear than do ropes having smaller wires.

Chains are highly resistant to abrasion and corrosion and find use for applications that would otherwise tend to damage fiber or wire rope.

Chains must be inspected link-by-link prior to any rigging job. Wear typically occurs at the bearing point. If you find a worn link, measure the cross section of the link with a caliper and check its measurement against an unworn area of the link.

Still, chains must be inspected link-by-link prior to any rigging job. Begin by cleaning the chain with a non-acid, non-caustic solvent so that marks, nicks and other defects become visible. Then lay out the chain on a flat, well-lit surface and examine links for stretching, bending, cracks, wear and rust. Links often become bent or gouged when a chain has been wrapped around an object with sharp edges. Discard any chain that is bent at the weld point.

In a chain link, wear typically occurs at the bearing point. If you find a worn link, measure the cross section of the link with a caliper and check its measurement against an unworn area of the link. If the worn link is less than the minimum allowable thickness, remove the chain from service.

When inspecting chain slings, use the same criteria used to inspect a single chain. In addition, check the sling for proper identification information. The sling should have a tag or other identifier that gives the sling’s size, reach, working-load limit, sling type, and a serial number with the manufacturer’s name or symbol. Do not use slings missing any of this identification information.

Angling for Safe Sling Use

Metalformers must keep an eye on sling angle when using slings to lift loads. Vertical and horizontal forces come into play when lifting objects with a sling, and the amount of force exerted on the sling increases as sling angle decreases. A good rule of thumb: avoid sling angles less than 45 deg. Otherwise, consult with the sling manufacturer on recommended sling angles, inspection criteria and proper use.

The capacity of the sling changes depending on the configuration—choker vs. basket, the number of legs on the sling and the angle of the legs. Basket hitches have higher working-load limits than do choker hitches.

When using a choker hitch, the ideal choke angle is 135 deg.; less than 120 deg. requires a reduction in the load. Never tighten a choker hitch during a lift; instead, pull the choker tight before the load is lifted. MF

See also: Tooling U

Technologies: Coil and Sheet Handling, Safety

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