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🪝The wrong sling, or a damaged one, is a serious safety risk on any lift. Knowing the types and what the ratings mean is the first step to lifting safely. Here is what to look for.
Lifting slings do one of the highest-risk jobs on any site, holding a load in the air. Choose the wrong type or use a sling that is past its best and the consequences can be severe. Choosing well and inspecting properly is what keeps a lift safe.
This guide covers the main types of lifting slings, what a sling working load limit tells you, and how to check a sling before you use it.
📌Quick summary
Synthetic webbing slings and round slings are light, flexible and easy to handle. They are gentle on finished or painted surfaces and are colour-coded by capacity, which makes them quick to pick on site. They suit a huge range of general lifting jobs, though they need protecting from sharp edges.
Chain slings are the choice for the heaviest loads and the harshest conditions. They cope with heat, abrasion and sharp edges far better than webbing, and they can be configured with multiple legs for awkward loads. They are heavier to handle, but hard to beat for durability.
Every compliant sling carries a tag or marking stating its working load limit and other details. Webbing slings are also colour-coded by capacity. If a sling has no legible tag, it should not be used, as you cannot verify what it is rated to carry.
A sling used at an angle, such as in a two-leg lift, carries less than the same sling in a straight vertical pull, because the angle adds tension to each leg. The wider the angle, the more capacity you lose. Always work to the rated capacity for the actual lifting configuration, not the vertical figure.
💬Need help choosing the right sling for a load? The team at Select Fasteners in Heatherbrae can point you the right way. Give them a call on (02) 4020 7951.
Before every lift, check webbing slings for cuts, fraying, abrasion, heat or chemical damage and a legible tag. Check chain slings for stretched, bent, cracked or heavily worn links and fittings. Any doubt about a sling’s condition means it comes out of service.
Damaged, overloaded or untagged slings must be removed from use straight away. Lifting gear should also be inspected and maintained in line with Australian standards and your workplace health and safety obligations, so keep records and follow a proper inspection schedule.
Our lifting and rigging range includes slings, chains and load restraint gear. The trade specialist team at the Heatherbrae store has decades of experience and can help you choose gear rated for your load.
You will also find the hardware and fittings that go with a rigging setup in the same shop, so you can gear up in one trip.
The most common are synthetic webbing slings, round slings and chain slings. Webbing and round slings are light and gentle on finishes, while chain slings suit the heaviest loads and the harshest conditions.
The working load limit, or WLL, is the maximum load a sling is rated to carry in a stated configuration. You must never exceed it, and you should factor in how the lifting angle reduces the effective capacity.
Using a sling at an angle puts more tension on each leg than a straight vertical lift, so the effective capacity drops. The wider the angle between the legs, the less the sling can safely carry.
Remove any sling that is damaged, overloaded, or missing a legible tag. For webbing that means cuts, fraying, or heat and chemical damage. For chain that means stretched, bent, cracked or badly worn links.
Yes. Slings should be checked before every use and inspected and maintained in line with Australian standards and workplace health and safety requirements. Keep records and follow a regular inspection schedule.
A chain sling handles heat, abrasion and sharp edges far better than webbing. If you must use webbing near sharp edges, protect it with suitable edge protection.
Safe lifting starts with the right, well-maintained gear. The team at Select Fasteners in Heatherbrae will help you choose slings and rigging rated for your load.
Give the team a call on (02) 4020 7951, drop by the store at 1 Archibald Place, Heatherbrae, or send us an online enquiry!
We supply lifting gear, fixings and trade supplies across Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Dungog, with the largest range north of the Hunter River.
Select Fasteners is a specialist fastener and industrial supplies business based at 1 Archibald Place, Heatherbrae NSW, serving Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Dungog. This article is general information only and is not a substitute for formal lifting training, a risk assessment or the relevant Australian standards. For advice specific to your job, get in touch with the team.
02 4020 7951
