Synthetic Sling Accidents on the Rise, According to Poll

synthetic sling accidents, rigging accidentsRigging accidents pose a serious risk and can lead to severe injuries or even death. Specifically, rigging accidents most often occur while crew members are working with a sling. Synthetic sling accidents are especially common in the heavy machine transport industry.

What the Polls Show

In a poll from Industrial Training International, respondents indicated that synthetic sling mishaps are especially prevalent. The compiled data showed that 81% of rigging accidents occur while working with a synthetic sling. That’s far more than the combined instances of accidents involving web slings, chains, and round slings.

The majority of the accidents resulted in cuts and abrasions. Most respondents also indicated that proper sling protection during a lift could have prevented the accident.

Are Synthetic Slings Inherently More Dangerous?

Crew members loading machinery on a trailer do not need to fear when working with synthetic slings. Injury risks are not inherently higher or lower with their use. The higher injury rate is due to lack of competency, knowledge, and experience. If you’re holding a sling on your right hand, for example, you should have sling protection in your left hand.

Warehouse managers should follow the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards when inspecting slings. In a nutshell, inspectors should periodically check for:

  • Abrasive wear
  • Cuts, tears, holes, or snags
  • Charring or melting
  • Worn stitching
  • Pitting or corrosion
  • Missing, faded, or illegible sling identification

If you repair a damaged sling, the manufacturer or other qualified entity must proof test it before you resume use.

Safety Is Paramount

As freight brokers, we hear about our fair share of rigging accidents. Too often, workers are hurt when loading freight onto a dedicated truck or LTL transport. Call Machine Transport to schedule your next outbound shipping. Upon scheduling, be sure your crew prevents synthetic sling accidents by following safety protocols.

Heavy Machine and Freight Transportation

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