Chain slings are used to lift heavy, large and awkward loads. They are used in many ways which makes them the most preferred option when it comes to lifting gear. It must be said that the sling does not (in reality) do all the work; it only acts as a supportive connector which is fitted in a lifting appliance in the form of a crane, a chain block, or an electric hoist.
Engineering factories, steel mills, foundries, dockyards, etc use chain slings when they manoeuvre or lift heavy loads around. A practical example can be found inside a dockyard; where they are mostly attached to a crane and then used to lift large containers from ships. The slings are produced from steel making them very strong and also appropriate for both indoor and outdoor weight lifting. They can withstand extreme temperatures, and the best part is that these slings are also chemical-resistant.
Different sling types are available for different tasks; the slings usually appear with 2, 3, or up to 4 legs which fall from a single master link and a hook on each leg for fixing. Apart from these, there is also an endless sling which is common in factories.
The type of hitch used in any sling affects the overall working load. Extensive research plus expert consultations will help you get the right package for the job. There are 3 types of hitches common in the market today, these include; the basket hitch, the choke hitch and the straight hitch. Straight is the easiest for any kind of sling; the legs here are straight downward from the master-link which is attached directly to the weight. This is more apposite when a load has its own anchoring points.
Basket hitch is when the sling wraps around and below the load which is then hooked into the master-link. With the choke hitch, the chain goes around the weight but is fitted into the chain rather than back into the master-link. This is best for smaller and also cylindrical loads.
The angle of the legs – from straight vertical position is a critical feature to consider when utilizing any sling type. At no time should this be more than 60kg and apart from straight lifts the angle shouldn’t be lower than 15kg because this will make it unstable. And at no account should chain slings be knotted; if they are longer than required, a hook can be used without putting people’s lives at risk.
It is important to confirm that the sling is good to go before you start using it. Ensure that there are no distorted links, cracked links or anything that could be of concern. If you are sceptical, then the chain should be avoided until it has been tested and you are given a green light to utilise by an expert. It is safer to schedule regular visits by a competent individual to carry out frequent inspections – it takes only single weak link to fail the whole lift. This is why after every six months, many companies in Britain have their chain slings checked to keep them safe and in top condition.