Slings & wire rope
Maintaining the integrity of your slings and wire ropes is essential for protecting your team and ensuring smooth daily operations in a busy workshop. By prioritizing regular inspections and proper handling, you can effectively mitigate the risks associated with heavy lifting and equipment failure.
About 56% of related real accidents concentrate in these types.
Key prevention
- Perform thorough visual inspections before every use to identify signs of fraying, kinking, or structural deformation.
- Always store rigging equipment in a clean, dry environment away from corrosive chemicals or extreme temperatures.
- Ensure that all loads are properly balanced and centered to prevent uneven stress or sudden shifting during a lift.
- Strictly adhere to rated load capacities and never attempt to exceed the weight limits specified by the manufacturer.
- Provide hands-on training for all staff members to ensure they understand how to identify damaged gear and report it immediately.
Related accident cases
An employee was injured when a rope broke during a lifting operation, causing them to fall backward and strike their elbow. The employee later sought medical treatment for an infection resulting from the injury.
A drill crew member was attempting to remove a stuck drill pipe when a wire rope snub line failed, causing tongs to strike the employee and result in a fatal injury.
An employee was struck by a severed wire rope while pulling a conveyor belt during loading/unloading and stacking operations. The incident involved slings (ropes, chains).
During a lifting operation using personnel equipment in the connection and assembly process, a wire rope became loose and struck an employee.
While cutting the end of a spool to reduce height, the wire rope loosened, causing the worker to fall to the ground. The worker underwent surgery and was unable to work until May 1, 2008.
While removing a pipe from a well, a sling used with a wrench slipped, causing the wrench to fly back towards an employee and twist their knee.
A worker died when a wire rope system failed during machinery connection work.