Comprehensive Sling Self-inspection Checklist

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

• This checklist covers regulations issued by OSHA under the general industry standards 29 CFR 1910.184 and the construction standard 29 CFR 1926.251. It applies to slings used with other equipment to move material by lifting or hoisting

Safe Operating Practices

• Are damaged or defective slings immediately taken out of service?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are slings the original length without the use of knots, bolts or other devices to shorten them? (i.e., have not been shortened by the use of knots, bolts or any other device)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are slings free of kinks?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are sling loads always at or below the rated capacities? Note: Consult the OSHA regulations or the manufacturer's requirements for permitted load ratings

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If a basket hitch is used, has the load been balanced to prevent slippage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are slings always securely attached to their loads?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are slings padded or protected from the sharp edges of their loads?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are suspended loads kept clear of all obstructions?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are employees kept clear of loads to be lifted and suspended?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have all employees been instructed not to place hands or fingers between the sling and the load while it is being tightened?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is shock loading prohibited?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have employees been instructed not to pull a sling from under a load when the load is resting on the sling?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC FIBER ROPE SLINGS

• Are any Natural or synthetic fiber rope slings used at this location?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are natural and synthetic fiber rope slings used only within a temperature range of 120º F to 180º F?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If natural and synthetic fiber rope slings are used outside the temperature range of 120º F to 180º F or have been wetted or frozen, are the manufacturer's recommendations followed for continued use?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do fiber rope slings have a minimum clear length of rope between eye splices equal to 10 times the rope diameter?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the use of knots in place of splicing prohibited for fiber rope slings?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the use of fiber rope slings prohibited if the end attachments in contact with the rope have sharp edges or projections?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

SYNTHETIC WEB SLINGS

• Are any Synthetic web slings used at this location?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is each synthetic web sling marked or coated to show the rated capacity for each type of hitch and synthetic web material?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the synthetic webbing of uniform thickness and width? Note: Selvage edges must not be split from the webbing's width

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do fittings have a minimum breaking strength equal to that of the sling?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are fittings free of all sharp edges that could damage the webbing?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is stitching the only method used to attach end fittings to webbing and to form eyes?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are synthetic web slings only used within their rated load capacity? Note: Consult the tables in the OSHA regulations or the manufacturer's requirements for permitted load ratings for the different rigging situations

  Yes

  No

  N/A

When synthetic web slings are used, are the following precautions taken?

• Nylon web slings are not used where fumes, vapors, sprays, mists or liquids of acids or phenolics are present

  Compliant

  Non-Compliant

  N/A

• Polyester and polypropylene web slings are not used where fumes, vapors sprays, mists or liquids of caustics are present

  Compliant

  Non-Compliant

  N/A

• Web slings with aluminum fittings are not used where fumes, vapors, sprays, mists or liquids of caustics are present

  Compliant

  Non-Compliant

  N/A

• Is the use of synthetic web slings of polyester and nylon above 180º F prohibited?

  Compliant

  Non-Compliant

  N/A

• Is the use of polypropylene web slings above 200º F prohibited?

  Compliant

  Non-Compliant

  N/A

• Are synthetic web slings only repaired by the sling manufacturer or another competent person or organization?

  Compliant

  Non-Compliant

  N/A

• Is each repaired sling proof tested by the manufacturer (or another competent person or organization) to twice the rated capacity before its return to service? Is a certificate of proof test available?

  Compliant

  Non-Compliant

  N/A

• Is the use of temporarily repaired slings (including webbing and fittings) prohibited?

  Compliant

  Non-Compliant

  N/A

ALLOY STEEL CHAIN SLINGS

• Are there Alloy Steel Chain Slings used in this location?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do alloy steel chain slings have permanently affixed durable identification stating the size, grade, rated capacity and reach?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do hooks, rings, oblong links, pear-shaped links, welded or mechanical coupling links or other attachments have rated capacities at least equal to that of the alloy steel chain with which they are used?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the sling used at or below the rated capacity of the weakest component?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are makeshift links or other fasteners formed from bolts or rods prohibited?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a thorough inspection made of the alloy steel chain sling at least once every 12 months?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are written records kept of these inspections?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are thorough inspections of alloy steel chain slings performed by competent persons? Note: The inspector must check for wear, defective welds, deformation and increase in length. The OSHA construction regulations 1926.251(b)(5) require the sling be removed from service if any chain link has excessive wear. Consult the OSHA regulation for additional details

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have new, repaired or reconditioned alloy steel chain slings been proof tested by the manufacturer, and is a certificate of proof test available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are of alloy steel chain slings used with loads at or below the rated capacities? Note: Consult the OSHA regulations or the manufacturer's requirements for permitted load ratings

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are alloy steel chain slings permanently removed from service if heated above 1,000º F?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are maximum working loads reduced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations if the chain or sling is exposed to temperatures above 600º F?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the use of mechanical coupling links or low carbon steel repair links prohibited?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

WIRE ROPE SLINGS

• Are Wire Rope Slings utilized at this location?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are wire rope slings used with loads at or below their rated capacities? Note: Consult the OSHA regulations or the manufacturer's requirements for permitted load ratings

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are fiber core wire rope slings permanently removed from service if they are exposed to temperatures above 200º F?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the sling manufacturer’s recommendations followed when nonfiber core wire rope slings are used at temperatures above 400º F or below -60º F?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is welding of end attachments performed before assembly of the sling?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all welded end attachments proof tested by the manufacturer or equivalent entity at twice their rated capacity before their initial use, and is a certificate of the proof test available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Are wire rope slings immediately removed from service if any of the following conditions are present?

• Ten randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or five broken wires in one strand in one rope lay

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Wear or scraping of one-third the original diameter of outside individual wires

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Kinking, crushing, bird caging or other damage resulting in distortion of the wire rope structure

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Evidence of heat damage

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• End attachments that are cracked, deformed or worn

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Hooks that have been opened more than 15 percent of the normal throat opening (measured at the narrowest point), or hooks twisted more than 10 degrees from the plane of the unbent hook

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Corrosion of the rope or end attachments

  Yes

  No

  N/A

METAL MESH SLINGS

• Are Metal Mesh Slings utilized in this location?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does each metal mesh sling have a permanently affixed durable marking that states the rated capacity for vertical basket hitch and choker hitch loading?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do handles have a rated capacity at least equal to the metal fabric and show no deformation after proof testing?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• When fabric and handles are joined, are the following steps completed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the rated capacity of the sling the same (i.e., not reduced)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the load is evenly distributed across the width of the fabric?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the fabric protected from sharp edges?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are slings free of coatings that diminish the rated capacity of the sling prohibited?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all new and repaired metal mesh slings and handles proof tested by the manufacturer or other competent person at a minimum of one and a half times their rated capacity? Is a certificate of proof test available?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are metal mesh slings only used below their permitted load rated capacities? Note: Consult the OSHA regulations or the manufacturer's requirements for permitted load ratings

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the sling manufacturer's recommendations followed concerning safe operating temperatures?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all repairs to metal mesh slings performed by the manufacturer or another competent person?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Once repaired, are metal mesh slings marked or tagged, or are written records maintained to indicate the date and nature of the repair and the person or organization that performed the repairs?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention