safe lifting and slinging

8/3/2019 Safe Lifting and Slinging

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Slinging and Lifting


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The material in this presentation will concentrate onthe following:

Working in accordance with LOLER Methods of ensuring safe lifting and slinging Equipment to help prepare and position pipework


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Lifting Operations and Lifting EquipmentRegulations (LOLER) 1998

Came into force on 5 December 1998

Replaced existing legal requirements relating to the

use of lifting equipment, e.g. the Construction(Lifting Operations) Regulations 1961, the DocksRegulations 1988 and the Lifting Plant andEquipment Regulations 1992

Aim to reduce risks to peoples health and safetyfrom lifting equipment provided for use at work


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What does LOLER do?

Require that lifting equipment provided for use at workis:

strong and stable enough for the particular use and marked toindicate safe working loads;

positioned and installed to minimise any risks;

used safely;

subject to ongoing thorough examination and inspection bycompetent people


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Equipment covered by the Regulations

Any equipment used at work for lifting or loweringloads

Attachments used for anchoring, fixing orsupporting it

Cranes, fork-lift trucks, lifts, hoists, mobileelevating work platforms (cherry pickers), andvehicle inspection platform hoists

Lifting accessories such as chains, slings, eyeboltsetc

LOLER does not apply to escalators


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To whom do the Regulations apply?

Employers and self-employed persons who eitherprovide lifting equipment, or control the use oflifting equipment in the work area

They do not apply if equipment is being providedfor use primarily by members of the public

Employees do not have specific duties underLOLER, but they do have general duties under the

HSW Act and the Management of Health andSafety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR)


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LOLER requirements

It should be ensured that all lifting equipment is:

sufficiently strong, stable and suitable for theproposed use

positioned or installed to prevent the risk of injury

visibly marked with any appropriate information tobe taken into account for its safe use


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LOLER requirements continued

Additionally, it must be ensured that:

lifting operations are planned, supervised andcarried out in a safe manner by people who arecompetent

where equipment is used for lifting people it ismarked accordingly, and it should be safe for sucha purpose

where appropriate, before lifting equipment(including accessories) is used for the first time, itis thoroughly examined


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How the Regulations relate to other healthand safety legislation

Section 2 of the HSW Act requires all employersto ensure the health, safety and welfare of alltheir employees

The MHSWR contain important duties which relateto the carrying out of a risk assessment to identifymeasures that can be taken to eliminate, or reduce,the risks presented by the particular hazards in

the workplace

The Personal Protective Equipment at WorkRegulations 1992, may also apply


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How are the Regulations enforced?

Health and safety inspectors enforce theRegulations

If employers have duties under LOLER they will begiven time to assimilate any new requirements

Where there are serious risks, or the requirementsare not new, inspectors will be prepared to takefirm enforcement action


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Slinging and Lifting basic guidance

Always: Ensure that only authorised slingers/signallers attach or

detach loads or signal the crane/lifting plant operator Discuss operations with the crane/lifting plant operator

Before lifting, ensure capacity of crane/lifting plant issufficient to land the load Include the weight of the chain/slings etc in the load on the

lifting hook Seek expert advice when using lifting tackle Obtain information that pre-fabricated rebar assemblies


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Slinging and Lifting basic guidance

Never: Wrap hand/tag lines around the body Use tie wires or banding to lift loads Leave a suspended load unattended

Pass loads over the public Use lifting accessories for pulling or towing Ride or climb on lifting machines or suspended loads Lift near power lines Stand or walk beneath a load


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Chain slings

Chain slings are generally the most versatile type ofsling, as well as the most robust. General purpose chainslings can have either one, two, three or four legs


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Shortening clutches

Shortening clutches enabling a multi legged sling to havedifferent length legs to adjust the loads are availablefor chains. Clutches must be correctly fitted to avoidfailure or shortening of the chain life


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Note: the allowable lifting weight is reduced when allthe legs of a chain sling are not being used


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Wire rope slings

These are normally used for specific items, as they arecheaper than chain slings and can be made to exactlengths for loads that require odd leg lengths


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Round and webbing slings

These are used for loads that can be easily damaged.The slings are light and easy to handle but they can besusceptible to damage, and they must be protectedfrom sharp edges and from sliding along the load if usedat an angle


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End fittings

The end fittings on chain slings will generally be eithersling hooks ) or C hooks.

Both of these are designed to minimise the risk of theload slipping out of the hook.

Of the two, the C hook is designed not to catch onobstructions; it is more robust and does not have aeasily damaged safety catch.

Special purpose fittings such as shackles are also usedfor lifting pipes.


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End fittings continued


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Equipment checking/choice of sling

The choice of sling construction, length and end fittingsdepends on:

The load being lifted The weight of the load

The size of the load The shape of the load Whether or not sling attachment points have been provided Whether the load can be easily damaged Whether the load is a single item or a bundle of loose items

Whether the load is on a pallet


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Equipment checking/choice of sling continued

Other points to note include: The larger the load, the longer the length of sling required

Long slender loads should be slung with the sling legs at least

one third of the length of the load apart For frequent usual lifts, the slinger/signaller should choose

the appropriate type of sling or chain in accordance withestablished company/centre procedures

For special lifts the slinger/signaller must use the equipmentspecified in the method statement


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Safe use of slings

Shackles must always be used on lifting hooks if morethan one sling is to be connected to it, or if the hook islikely to become overcrowded by the ends of the samesling.

The angle between the sling legs and the hook mustnever exceed 90


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Safe use of slings continued


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Protecting the load or sling

The sling and/or load may require protection fromdamage.

If the sling passes round any sharp corners, thensuitable packing should be used to protect the slingand/or the corners of the load.

It is common to use timber packing near the corners ofloads and to slip lengths of tube over projections such

as beam flanges


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Two-legged slings

For two-legged slings the angle between the legs of thesling determines its safe working load (SWL):

A two-legged sling will be marked with its SWL at 90, andthis applies to all sling angles from 0-90

The sling may also be marked with its SWL at 120, and thiswill apply for angles between 90 and 120 These SWL assume that both legs are equally loaded, and

that each leg is straight Never us any two-legged sling not marked with the SWLfor the angle being used, or for any angles greater than120


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Two-legged slings continued

It is good practice to keep the angle to between 60and 90. With the sling at smaller angles, the load ismore likely to tip-up and may even slide out of the slingswhere basket or choke hitches are used.


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Three-legged slings

For three-legged slings, the maximum angle between thelegs of the sling and the vertical will determine the safeworking load (SWL):

A three-legged sling will be marked with its SWL at 45 and

this applies for all angles from 0 - 45 The SWL for a three-legged sling assumes that all legs are

equally loaded, and that each leg is at the same angle Never use any three-legged sling not marked with theSWL for the angle being used, or for angles greater than

45


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Three-legged slings continued

It is generally good practice to keep the angle tobetween 30 and 45. With the slings at smaller anglesthe load is more likely to tip-up.


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Three-legged slings continued

If the sling is to be used with less than three legs, theSWL should be determined by multiplying the SWL bythe factor shown in the table below:

Legs SWL x

2 0.66

1 0.33


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Four-legged slings

For four-legged slings, the maximum angle betweenopposite legs of the sling will determine its safe workingload (SWL):

A four-legged sling will be marked with its SWL at 90 and

will apply for all angles from 0 - 90 It may also be marked with its SWL at 120 which will apply

for angles between 90 and 120 The SWL for a four-legged sling assumes that all legs are

equally loaded and that each leg is straight

Never use any four-legged sling not marked with the SWLfor the angle being used, or for angles greater than 120


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Four-legged slings continued

It is generally good practice to keep the angle tobetween 60 and 90. With the slings at smaller anglesthe load is more likely to tip-up.


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Four-legged slings continued

If the sling is used with less than four legs, the SWLshould be determined by multiplying the SWL by thefactor shown in the table below:

Legs SWL x3 0.75

2 0.5

1 0.25


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Methods of Slinging

SWL factors also apply according to the type of slingand how it is used.

The same principles also apply to multi-legged slings

Examples for various types of single legged slings areshown in the following slide


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Types of Slings


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SWL Factors for common slings

METHOD OF USE

Singleleginline

Singlelegchoked

Singlelegbasket090

Singlelegbackhooked

SingleLeghalshed

Endlessin-line

Endlesschoked

EndlessBasket0-90

SLINGMATERIAL

Chain 1 0.8 1.4 1 1.5 N/A 1 N/A

Wire Rope 1 1 1.4 1 2 1 1 1.4

Webbing 1 0.8 1.4 N/A N/A 1 0.8 1.4

Fibre Rope 1 0.8 1.4 1 N/A 1 0.8 1.4Round N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 0.8 1.4


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Sling hooks

When slinging, hooks must always face outwards fromthe lifting point.


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Choke hitch

Do not batter down slings to increase the grip, allowthe angle to form naturally. The maximum permittedangle is 120.


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Webbing slings

Wide webbing slings cannot be used at a sideways anglewhere the sling would not be equally loaded across itswidth.


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Hand tag lines

In certain circumstances hand/tag lines should beattached to the load to prevent the load swinging orspinning, and to help in landing it in the right place.


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Regular sized pipe lengths

When lifting bundles of pipe, slings should be doublewrapped. The image shows slings in the double wrapchoke hitch. SWL factor for chain slings used in thisway is 0.8.


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Palletised loads

An example of a frequently lifted load that requiresspecial equipment is a pallet of fittings/accessories.When covered by safety netting, the mesh size shouldbe smaller than the smallest item to be lifted.


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Beams

Use double wrapped slings when sling legs can slidetogether. SWL for chain slings used in this way is 0.8.


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Stillages/fitting bins

Wrap slings round corner posts and do not attempt tolift double stacked stillages. Beware of overloadingscaffold boards if landing loaded stillages on a scaffold.SWL factor for chain slings used in this way is 0.8.


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Rubbish skips

Typical arrangement of special sling is with steel boxsections under skip, and steel tube spreaders to keepsling legs vertical.

Keyhole plates on skip lugs are for location purposes not

for lifting.

Skips with specially adapted lifting points areacceptable providing thorough examination is

undertaken at 6 month intervals.

Beware of rusted skip bottoms, as these can fall outwhen the skip is lifted.


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Pipes (larger diameter)

For short pipes, pass sling through pipe. SWL factor forwebbing slings used in this way is 1.4.


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Pipes (larger diameter) continued

For long pipes, use two slings in choke hitch, doublewrapping if slings are likely to slide together.


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Pipes (larger diameter) continued

Where a pipe is being placed into an adjacent trench, asingle webbing sling can be used.


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The Lift

Before lifting the following must be considered: Are the slings undamaged and properly attached to the load? Is the crane hoist rope vertical? Is the load free to be lifted i.e. not fixed to anything else?

Are the legs of a multi-legged sling equally loaded? Are the slings free of knots, tangles etc Are all spare legs of the sling hooked up to the master link on

the lifting hook? Is the safety catch on the lifting hook closed Are there any obstructions above the load preventing a

straight lift Is the master link on the lifting hook free and in the centre

of the bowl of the hook? Are all personnel clear of the load?


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The Lift continued

Before lifting the following must be considered: Is there a slinger/signaller in position to receive the load? Is the landing site prepared to take the load? Are the weather conditions acceptable?

If required, are hand/tag lines attached to the load? Are there sufficient slingers/signallers in position to keep aneye on the load at all times during the lift and to direct thecrane operator?


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Taking the weight

Once the load has been lifted a short distance abovethe ground, check that:

The load is balanced and stable

The legs of the sling are at the correct angles

Any packing pieces are in place and sound

The load itself is not over stressed


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During the lift

The load can now be lifted and moved to its landingarea. While in the air, avoid:

Where possible, passing over personnel working on the site

The public

Power lines

Projecting scaffolding

Air space violation


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Landing the Load

Before landing the load, check that: The landing area will take the weight of the load

There is sufficient weight for the load

There are strips of timber or similar on which to land the loadsuch that the slings can be easily removed by hand


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After the lift

Only authorised slingers/signallers are to detach slingsfrom the load.

Take care with bundles of pipe/tube and similar itemsas they can collapse when landed and pipes can roll

The legs of the sling should now be hooked back ontothe master link, shackle etc on the crane hook.


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Signalling

If radios are chosen, the following method of useshould be followed:

All instructions must be repeated continuously for exampleLower, Lower, Lower. until the movement is complete

If the instructions stop getting through to the craneoperator the load should be brought to a halt immediately

This will help guard against failure of the radio system


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Signalling continued

If hand signals are used, the following signals should beemployed ensuring that:

There is always a line of sight between the signaller and thecrane operator

The signaller faces the crane operator whenever signalling

Visiting crane operators understood the standard hand signalsas detailed in the following slides


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safe lifting and slinging

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