Pre-Inspections

Damage to wire rope can occur on one lift and best practice is to perform a visual inspection before any shift change or changes in lifting application. Because shock loads, severe angles, sharp edges, and excessive heat can quickly cause damage to a lifting sling, the user should inspect the sling prior to each lift.

It is also important that all inspections must be done by trained and qualified personnel. To detect possible damage, you should perform a visual inspection of the entire sling by making all parts of the sling readily visible. If necessary, remove dirt and grime so wires and components are visible.

Designate a Competent Person to perform a daily, or pre-shift, hands-on inspection of hardware, slings, and all fastenings and attachments for damage, defects, or deformities. For severe or special service applications, rigging equipment should be inspected before each use. The inspector should also make sure that the rigging gear being used for the lift meets the specific job requirements in which it’s being used for.

Best practice is to perform a visual inspection of your rigging gear before any shift change or changes in lifting application. Users shouldn’t rely on a once-a-day inspection for slings, shackles, hooks, hoist rings, etc. if they’re being used multiple times throughout the course of a day.