Bituminous Insurance Companies

Updated OSHA Guidance on Slings

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new guide on the selection and use of slings when handling and moving materials. The document, Guidance on Safe Sling Use, provides updated material to the 1975 OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.184, Slings, by including information on synthetic round slings and newer-grade materials being used in alloy steel chain and wire rope slings. OSHA has not updated the sling standard since its initial publication.

Sling manufacturers have been manufacturing and marking slings in accordance with the specifications set forth in American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard B30.9–2003, Slings, rather than with the specifications found in the existing OSHA standard, as well as other OSHA standards that have requirements for slings. Because there is no indication that the newer ASME specifications have lessened employee safety, OSHA will continue to accept, under its policy for de minimis violations, the use of slings manufactured and marked in compliance with the ASME standard. De minimis violations require no correction and result in no penalty.

This guidance document is a combination of the OSHA standard, ASME's consensus standard and other relevant information. However, this guidance document is not intended to imply or impose any additional regulatory requirements, beyond the requirements in the OSHA standard.

This guide should help employers and employees recognize hazardous conditions, such as:

• Improper sling or attachments for the type of load to be lifted and the environment in which it is being lifted;
• Worn slings and attachments or those with damage, such as cracks, kinks, bends, cuts, gouges, and frayed fibers; and<
• Improper storage of slings and misuses, such as resting of loads on the sling or dragging of slings across abrasive floors.

This guide should also help employers and employees identify and avoid hazardous work practices, such as:

• Riding slings or walking under suspended loads; and
• Using improperly repaired or reconditioned slings and attachments or slings and attachments that must be removed from service.

Although this guide discusses and makes recommendations on slings, there are legal requirements in OSHA standards that employers and workers should understand. The most important requirement depends on the type of work being accomplished. For work in general industry, employers and workers should ensure that the materials handling activities follow 29 CFR 1910.184, Slings, and consider related requirements for in 29 CFR 1910.179, Overhead and Gantry Cranes.

The new document, Guidance on Safe Sling Use, may be found at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/slings/index.html

COPYRIGHT ©2007, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

The information contained in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. ISO Services Properties, Inc., its companies and employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with either the information herein contained or the safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is contained herein or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require further or additional procedure.