Our Safety Program is unequaled - as well as our slings being state-of-the-art, we also offer education to the user that is invaluable. In areas where sales engineers are available, Wear-Flex will conduct on-site Safe Load-Lifting Seminars. The seminars include recommended safety procedures for material handling with nylon slings, proper sling selection, recommended sling applications and sling maintenance procedures. Certificates of Achievement are available for those in attendance.
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1. RATED CAPACITY
The term “Rated Capacity” represents the ratio of the minimum breaking strength divided by the design factor of 5 under the following conditions:
Expressed as a formula, with a design factor of 5:
Rated Capacity =
Minimum Breaking Strength / 5
Catalog rated capacity charts are determined by actual tests. Do not exceed sling rated capacity.
The term “Rated Capacity” does not represent the sling’s lifting capacity under all lifting conditions or at any time during the working life of the sling. When calculating a sling working load it is necessary to consider:
2. DESIGN FACTOR
“Design Factor” is the ratio between the sling’s minimum breaking strength and the sling’s rated capacity. Wear-Flex designs all slings to a minimum design factor of 5.
3. TOLERANCE
Wear-Flex Slings are manufactured to a tolerance of ± 2% for a single and double ply slings and ± 4% for three and four ply slings.
4. BREAKING STRENGTH
The load at which any part of a sling breaks to destruction.
5. PROOF TEST
A load factor of two (2) times the rated capacity of the sling applied during a testing procedure.
6. ELONGATION
The measurement of stretch determined as a % of the no-load length. Wear-Flex nylon slings stretch approximately 5-7% at rated capacity and 30-33% at breaking strength. Elongation varies with web and sling construction. Polyester stretches approximately one half as much as nylon.
7. TEMPERATURE
The upper use limit for nylon and polyester as a sling material is 194° Fahrenheit (90° Celsius).
8. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
Untreated nylon is adversely affected by ultraviolet light exposure. For prolonged exposure to sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light, slings should be treated or coated.
9. SHARP EDGES
Do not use sharp edges without proper sling protection.
| SAFETY TIPS |
|---|
| Eye Size |
  Eyes should fit freely on the hook. Snug fits greatly increase eye strain. |
| Choker Hitch |
Tight chokes greatly increase sling stress. Full wrap before choke gives no-slip lifting. |
As the sling-to-load angle decreases, so does the rated capacity of a sling.
Use this chart for all type slings; rope, chain or synthetic web.
Sling-to-Load Angle is always the angle between the sling leg and the horizontal surface.
| Rate Sling Capacity (one leg) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sling-To-Load Angle | Sling Lifting Efficiency (%) | Sling Capacity @ 90 (lbs) | Actual Sling Capacity (lbs) |
| 90 | 100.0 | 1000 | 1000 |
| 75 | 96.6 | 1000 | 966 |
| 60 | 86.6 | 1000 | 866 |
| 45 | 70.7 | 1000 | 707 |
| 30 | 50.0 | 1000 | 500 |
| 15 | 25.8 | 1000 | 258 |
| 5 | 8.7 | 1000 | 87 |
Before using web slings, inspect the slings for any of the following damages. Never use a Wear-Flex sling if red core yarns become visible.
ABRASION DAMAGE - Can result from friction between the sling and an abrasive surface or from pulling the sling from under the load.
CUT DAMAGE - A cut is a clean break in the webbing resulting from contact with a sharp load edge. If inner red safety core yarns are visible, remove sling from service.
ACID DAMAGE - Acid or caustic vapors destroy the integrity of nylon filaments. If slings show any sign of acid damage, promptly discard them.
TENSILE BREAK - Can result from sling overload. A frayed appearance at the failure point indicates this type of break. Never handle a load with an under capacity sling.
SNAGS & PUNCTURES - Sharp objects can snag or puncture sling webbing. Due to the inability to determine the amount of sling loss on this type of damage, remove the sling from service.
HEAT DAMAGE - A sling exposed to heat above 194° Fahrenheit (90° Celsius) has lost its efficiency and should be removed from service.
| Acids | Alcohols | Aldehydes | Strong Alkalis | Bleaching Agents | Dry Cleaning Solvents | Ethers | Halogenated Hydro Carbons | Hydro Carbons | Ketones | Oils Crude | Oils Lubricating | Soap & Detergents | Water & Seawater | Weak Alkalis | |
| Nylons | NO | OK | OK | OK | NO | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK |
| Polyester | * | OK | NO | ** | OK | OK | NO | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK |