GGR Glass stocks a range of strong, supple, flexible and durable lifting slings for handling loads both great and small. Here’s our essential guide to using webbing slings safely and effectively…

Choosing your sling
Before purchasing your sling you need to consider the weight, size and shape of your load to make sure you choose the correct capacity and length of sling for your job.

You can easily identify the capacity of a sling at a glance as they are colour coded – purple for up to 1 tonne, green up to 2t, yellow up to 3t and brown up to 6t.

The following webbing slings are available to buy from our lifting accessories section at GGR Glass…

  • Polyester Continuous Slings are round slings with fibre padding inside, from 1 to 6 tonnes in capacity and 16 metres in length.
  • Single Ply Webbing Slings are lighter and more flexible than wire rope or lifting chains, can lift 1 to 3 tonne loads and are available in lengths up to 7 metres.
  • Two-Ply Polyester Webbing Slings are double thickness duplex lifting straps that are extra strong and durable, up to 12 metres long and can lift up to 3 tonnes.

This table shows how the way your load is slung can affect the lifting capacity of the sling…

 

Checking your sling
Remember these top tips for making sure the full length of your sling is in good condition before attempting to lift your load as a using damaged sling may have a significantly reduced lifting capacity.

You should check for the following signs of wear and tear…

  • Abrasion
  • Surface chafing
  • Cuts
  • Cracked end fittings
  • Loose or incomplete stitching on eyes or seams
  • Softened areas or powdering caused by chemical damage

Look at your used sling against a brand new one to see how it compares and if you are still unsure don’t use the sling. You should never try to repair a damaged sling yourself.

Don’t forget to also check your load as any sharp edges can easily damage the fabric sling, but patches or sleeves can be used to provide added protection. Make sure your equipment is compatible with the sling, stretching the slings eyes wider to fit a larger hook in will make that part of the sling weaker and more vulnerable to breaking mid-lift.

Using your sling
Some more essential advice to remember to stay safe when lifting with webbing slings…

  • Plan the lifting and lowering of the load beforehand taking into account any potential risks
  • Distribute the weight of the load across the sling as evenly as possible
  • If using more than one sling make sure the load weight is spread evenly across them so the load won’t tilt of fall during the lift
  • Don’t drag a slung load across rough surfaces such as the ground
  • Don’t pull a sling out from beneath the load when it is supporting its weight
  • Don’t shock load the sling by suddenly putting the whole load weight onto it
  • Keep your sling away from direct sunlight, heat and UV radiation
  • Seek advice if using slings in extreme conditions or around chemicals

GGR Glass is also able to create custom slings for those customers who want to lift larger and heavier loads. We can produce bespoke flat simplex webbing slings up to 30 metres long and 20 tonnes capacity. Round slings up to 18 metres long can be made to order for lifting loads of up to 100 tonnes.