Protect Your Slings, Protect Your Crew: Why Sling Protection Matters

When rigging a load, choosing the right sling means considering the material, type of hitch, and the capacity, as well as the load itself. As part of the rigging system, slings are a vital part of lifting operations. But they are one of the most abused tools on a jobsite. Protecting them from damage not only extends their life and reduces replacement costs but also reduces the risk of catastrophic rigging failures.

“Synthetic slings in your right hand, sling protection in your left.”

This industry-famous quote from Mike Parnell, founder of Industrial Training International, underscores the foundational importance of protecting slings. While Parnell promoted the use of sling protectors for use with synthetic slings, the reality is that most types of slings and many loads benefit from their use.

Here are some things you need to know when picking up a sling protector for your next project.

Preventing Damage to Slings and Loads

Slings come in a variety of materials, including synthetic, wire rope, wire mesh, or alloy chain. All slings, regardless of material, need to be protected against edges, corners, and protrusions to extend the sling’s life and prevent catastrophic failure.

Both steel and synthetics can be damaged by rough, ribbed, or uneven surfaces through abrasion. Abrasion can remove material or cause a weakening or failure of the sling. Heat from friction can cause additional damage to the sling. And even with an edge that may not seem sharp, can cause slings to fail with repeated exposure over time, load movement, or sling pressure.

A sling protector can give the sling a smoother surface to run over, reducing the risk of damage, tears, or failure of the sling while in use.

However, slings can also cause damage to the materials and equipment you’re moving, so a sling protector can keep the sling away from significant contact points during lift operations.

Picking the Right Protection

When choosing sling protection, it is critical to understand that some sling protection is good for only abrasion resistance, while other protection is good for resistance to abrasion AND cutting.

Common types of sling protectors are corner pads, wear pads, covers or sleeves, or reinforced lifting eyes. You can find sling protectors shaped specifically for corners, for example, to prevent fraying or cutting of slings on sharp edges of equipment or sharp materials.

DICA’s LiftGuard is unique because it provides a new surface that is smooth and rounded that goes between the load and the sling, eliminating the edge or corner, instead of providing padding or extra layers of wear protection. LiftGuard Corner, Beam & Plate, and Steel Coil protectors provide true cut protection.

The Benefits of Magnets

It’s important to ensure that once you put a sling protector in place for a lift, it will stay in place to keep the equipment, materials, and sling protected. Sling protectors like DICA’s LiftGuard Magnetic Sling Protectors have the added benefit of integrated magnets, which improve operational efficiency and safety.

Review Safety Compliance

Both OSHA and ASME have clear guidance for sling operators on the use of sling protectors to pad and protect slings that come in contact with edges. Sling protectors not only help to avoid damage but also protect workers on jobsites where slings are in use.

• Identify sharp edges on loads that could cause hazards for slings
• Place sling protectors on the edges to protect slings
• Review sling protectors to make sure they stay in place.
• Inspect slings before you begin to use them and during use.
• Follow inspection guidelines for the specific type of sling and remove it from service if it
  is damaged.

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Ready to enhance your lifting safety? Contact us today for expert advice on selecting the perfect sling protectors for your specific applications.