Safety Usage Rules of Steel Wire Rope Slings

1. General Requirements for Steel Wire Rope Slings

• Identification and Certification: Steel wire rope slings without proper markings and inspection certificates are strictly prohibited from being put into use. The markings on the slings should include information such as the rated load, type of wire rope, and manufacturer’s name. The inspection certificate serves as proof that the sling has passed the necessary quality and safety checks. Without these, it is impossible to determine the sling’s performance and reliability, which poses a significant risk to the lifting operation. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, ဆောက်လုပ်ရေးလုပ်ငန်းခွင်တစ်ခုတွင်, using an unmarked and uncertified sling may lead to unexpected failures during lifting, endangering the lives of workers and the integrity of the construction project.
• Pre-use Inspection: Before each use, a routine inspection should be carried out. If any damage to the steel wire rope or metal accessories is found to exceed the scrapping standards, the sling must not be used. The inspection should cover various aspects, including the condition of the wire rope (such as broken wires, corrosion, and wear), the integrity of the metal fittings (such as hooks, rings, and shackles), and the overall structural soundness of the sling. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, if a wire rope shows signs of severe corrosion or a hook has visible cracks, it is a clear indication that the sling is no longer safe for use and should be immediately removed from service.

2. Load-related Rules

• No Overloading: Overloading of steel wire rope slings is strictly prohibited. Each sling has a specific rated load capacity, which is determined based on its design, material quality, and manufacturing standards. Exceeding this capacity can lead to premature failure of the sling, such as wire breakage or deformation of the metal parts. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, in a heavy lifting operation, if the weight of the load exceeds the rated load of the sling, the increased stress on the wire rope may cause it to snap, resulting in the load falling and potentially causing serious damage and injuries.
• Angle Limitation: The included angle between the limbs of the steel wire rope sling should not be greater than 120°. A larger angle can lead to uneven force distribution among the limbs, increasing the stress on individual wires and reducing the overall load-bearing capacity of the sling. When the angle is too large, some of the limbs may bear more load than others, causing them to wear out more quickly or even break. This rule is especially important in multi-limb slings to ensure the safety and stability of the lifting operation.

3. Connection and Assembly Rules

• Proper Connection of Metal Accessories: For steel wire rope slings equipped with metal accessories such as hooks, rings, and chains, they should be connected with shackles, and their rated loads should be equal. This ensures that the load is evenly distributed among the components and reduces the risk of any single part failing due to excessive load. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, when using a sling with multiple hooks to lift a large object, if the rated loads of the hooks and the connecting shackles are not matched, the weaker component may break under the load, leading to the failure of the lifting operation.
• Stable Lifting: When using the steel wire rope sling for lifting, it is necessary to ensure a smooth start and avoid the action of impact loads. Impact loads can significantly increase the stress on the sling, causing damage to the wire rope and metal accessories. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, sudden jerks or drops during lifting can cause the wire rope to experience a momentary increase in tension, which may lead to wire breakage or the loosening of connections. To prevent this, the lifting operation should be carried out slowly and steadily, and the speed should be controlled to avoid any sudden changes.

4. Protection and Handling Rules

• Avoiding Sharp Bends and Collisions: Effective measures should be taken to prevent the steel wire rope from bending at sharp angles or colliding with the load. Sharp bends can cause excessive wear and tear on the wire rope, reducing its strength and lifespan. When the wire rope bends sharply, the outer wires are subjected to greater stress, which can lead to breakage over time. ဒီလိုပါပဲ။, collisions with the load can damage the wire rope and metal accessories. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, when lifting a heavy object with sharp edges, appropriate protective measures such as using padding or protective sleeves should be taken to prevent the wire rope from being cut or scratched.
• Prohibited Handling Methods: Dragging or throwing the steel wire rope sling from a height is strictly prohibited. Dragging the sling can cause abrasion and damage to the wire rope, especially on rough surfaces. Throwing the sling from a height can result in impact damage to the wire rope and metal accessories, as well as potential safety hazards for workers in the vicinity. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, if a worker throws a sling from a high platform, it may hit other objects or people, causing injuries.

5. Environmental and Storage Rules

• Temperature Limitation: The steel wire rope sling should not be used outside the temperature range of -60°C to 100°C. Extreme temperatures can affect the mechanical properties of the wire rope and metal accessories. At low temperatures, the wire rope may become brittle and more prone to breakage, while at high temperatures, the material may soften and lose its strength. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, in a cold storage environment, using a sling that is not suitable for low temperatures may result in the wire rope breaking due to brittleness.
• Corrosion Prevention: The sling should not be exposed to corrosive gases, liquids, or vapors. Corrosion can significantly reduce the strength of the wire rope and metal accessories, leading to premature failure. When the sling comes into contact with corrosive substances, the metal surface will gradually corrode, weakening the structure. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, in a chemical plant, if a sling is exposed to corrosive chemicals, it may need to be replaced more frequently to ensure safety.
• Storage and Testing: For steel wire rope slings with a storage period of more than twenty years, sampling tensile tests must be carried out as required, and they can only be used after passing the test. အချိန်နှင့်အမျှ, the material properties of the sling may change due to factors such as aging and environmental exposure. Sampling tensile tests can help determine whether the sling still meets the safety requirements. If the test results show that the sling’s strength has decreased significantly, it should be scrapped to prevent potential accidents.

6. Training and Awareness

• Operator Training: Operators using steel wire rope slings should receive professional training to understand the correct usage methods, safety rules, and potential hazards. Training should cover topics such as sling selection, စစ်ဆေးရေး, connection, and handling. By having a good understanding of these aspects, operators can ensure the safe operation of the sling and avoid common mistakes. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, trained operators will know how to properly select a sling based on the weight and shape of the load, and how to perform a thorough inspection before each use.
• Safety Awareness Promotion: Employers and relevant organizations should promote safety awareness among workers regarding the use of steel wire rope slings. This can be achieved through safety training sessions, safety posters, and regular safety inspections. By raising safety awareness, workers will be more cautious and responsible when using slings, reducing the likelihood of accidents. ဥပမာအားဖြင့်, safety posters in the workplace can remind workers of the importance of following safety rules and the potential consequences of violating them.