Lifting slings are designed to move large, bulky, heavy loads that would be extremely difficult if not impossible to move manually. they provide a direct connection from your lifting equipment, be it an electric hoist, or a crane to the load that you are using. Whenever you are lifting with lifting slings it is important that you take the following steps into consideration.
- Always inspect the sling for damage before use
Never use a damaged lifting sling. If the sling were to break whilst in use, could end up dropping the load; this could cause injuries, or fatalities in the work place, and could lead to damages to expensive equipment. Make sure you always check your lifting slings before use.
- Make sure you have chosen the right lifting sling for the job ahead.
There are 2 types of lifting slings, round slings and webbing slings. Webbing slings have a larger surface area to help protect the load, where as round slings offer flexibility, and can mould to irregular load shapes.
- Do not exceed the working load limit of the lifting sling
To determine which lifting sling you need you will need to know the weight of the load that you are lifting. If you are lifting a load that is 17 tonnes, then you will need to use a lifting sling with the Working Load Limit of 20 tonnes instead of 15 tonnes to support the weight. Every lifting sling has a different WLL. If this limit is exceeded you could damage the lifting sling that you are using, the load that you are lifting. All of our Slings WLL is clearly stated on our product pages.
- Ensure the load is secured.
All slings must be securely attached to the load in a manner that provides maximum control, and prevents any slipping, sliding and movement of any loose parts of the load. When attaching the slings, it is important that a train individual determines the most appropriate method of rigging.
- Make sure the lifting point is directly above the centre of gravity
When lifting a heavy load it is important that you have determined the centre of gravity before your begin lifting. Determining the centre of gravity is vital to achieving total control over the load that you are lifting. If the load isn’t restrained correctly, the centre of gravity will move directly under the lifting point, this could cause the load to swing, which could lead to the load being damaged or cause injury to other workers.
Browse Our Comprehensive Range of Lifting Slings
If you are unable to locate the exactly sling you are looking for or unsure which sling you need, please contact our customer service team on 0808 123 69 69 or email sales@safetyliftingear.com
0117 9381 600
