Industry news — Disposing of Failed Synthetic Slings: Flat and Round

Nylon or polyester flat slings have a higher resistance to mildew, rot, some chemicals, and abrasion. Despite this they can still be damaged to the point where they need to be removed from service and the sling should be disposed of as general waste or trash.

Some common observations that may indicate that your flat sling is unsafe and should be serviced or discarded are: acid or caustic burns, melting or charring of any part of the surface, snags, punctures, tears, or cuts, broken or worn stitching, wear or elongation exceeding the manufacturer’s recommendation and distortion of fittings.

If you notice any of the above damage, remove the sling immediately from service and organise for a qualified technician to service the item. If the equipment is marked as unsalvageable, then follow the discard method below.

It is important to identify a potential issue on synthetic round slings before the sling is connected to any rigging hardware. A small cut, burn, tear, or hole in a synthetic roundsling can compromise the strength and lifting capabilities of the sling when under load and therefore the sling must be removed from service immediately.

Some common observations that may indicate that your round sling is unsafe and should be serviced or discarded are: exposure to extreme heat or chemicals, wear beyond specified tolerances, stretching, kinks or binding, nicks or gouges in the links, damaged or displacement of end-fittings – including hooks and latches rings or links – by overload or misapplication

If you notice any of the above damage, remove the sling immediately from service and organise for a qualified technician to service the item. If the equipment is marked as unsalvageable, then follow the discard method below.