A hoist isn’t the only piece of equipment needed to lift a load. There are other pieces of equipment which connect the hoist to the load such as slings, shackles, hooks etc., known as loose tackle. These parts of the system often get picked up rather hastily, usually receiving less consideration than the hoist itself; this is a mistake since the safety of the whole lifting operation depends on the whole chain of equipment. This guide provides the explanation of the categories of loose tackle, their purposes, and important aspects of selection and usage.

Categories of Loose Tackle

There are three kinds of slings used in lifting operations: chain slings, wire rope slings, and textile slings.

Chain slings are the most durable slings, and they are well-suited for heavy, abrasive, and high-temperature loads. They will never wear out due to the use with sharp-edged materials as they won’t tear up the chains unlike a textile sling; however, they need maintenance in order to stay in good shape. These slings are produced in single, double, triple, and quadruple leg configurations which influences their capacity and the way the load is distributed.

Wire rope slings combine great strength and flexibility and are widely used in construction and engineering environments. They deal with angular or irregular loads well and have better crush resistance than the textile slings; however, wire rope slings are inappropriate if there is a possibility of kinking of the rope or cutting through the rope by sharp edges of the load.

Textile slings are generally lighter and safer for handling; they are less harmful to the surface of a finished load. They are widely used in manufacturing and assembling where the protection of the surface is important. Their disadvantage is the vulnerability to cuts, abrasion, and chemical exposure; therefore, a careful inspection is necessary before each use of the slings.

In addition to that, the rigging angle has a tremendous influence on the load capacity of the slings. As explained in our guide about load capacity calculation, increasing the angle between the legs of the sling above 90 degrees increases the load on each leg.

Shackles

The connection of the sling with the hoist hook is often provided by the shackle. There are two types of shackles: bow shackles and D-shackles (or dee shackles).

Bow shackles are more universal as the wide bow allows loads to be applied from various angles and they are well-suited for multi-leg assemblies and loads which aren’t aligned with the shackle pin. Bow shackles are usually preferred in most lifting operations as the standard shackles.

D-shackles are used where loads are applied in a straight line; they are stronger in that position but not tolerant of the loads going from the side; therefore, the D-shackles are better for predictable situations when the direction of pulling is constant.

Both kinds of the shackles have Working Load Limits which range from light duty shackles to extremely heavy duty ones. In any case, the pin of the shackle must be fully secured before the lift starts; the partially threaded pin is a critical failure point of the shackle.

Other Loose Tackle

Depending on the rigging system being set up, there might be some other items besides slings and shackles. Eyebolts are mounted to the machinery or structures and are used for providing a point of lift; all items of loose tackle have their ratings depending on the angle and weight of the load being lifted. Some swivels are used for allowing rotation of the suspended load, most are used for easier sling positioning in angled lifts without twisting of the chain or the sling. Different types of hooks (safety hooks, clevis hooks, grab hooks etc.) are used as connecting devices in the rigging system and must be always equipped with the safety latches.

Conclusion

All items of loose tackle fall under the requirements of LOLER in the same manner as the hoist itself. All items must be clearly marked with SWL, inspected before each use and examined regularly according to the schedule. Any deformation, fraying of the webbing, corrosion of the shackle pins etc. are the reasons of the immediate decommissioning of the item; there are no exceptions.