RIGGING EQUIPMENT
Industry Fundamentals and Occupational Safety
Unit 6
Rigging
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Rigging is when you use equipment to move materials
from one location to another. Through the use of
equipment the material is attached to the physical
machine doing the work to move the materials to the
desired location.
Basic Equipment:
Slings
 Hitch
 Shackles
 Eyebolts
 Clamps
 Hooks

Slings
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A sling is the device that connects the load to the
machine doing the lifting.
Three major types of slings:
 Synthetic
Sling
 Alloy Steel Chain Sling
 Wire Rope Sling
Sling
Tagging
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
All slings are required to be “tagged”. Tagging is a
form of identification that gives the specifics of that
particular type of sling.
Synthetic Tagging Requirements:
 Manufacturer/Trade
Mark
 Manufacturer’s stock number
 Rated capacity/ type of hitches
 Materials used to create sling
Tagging

Alloy Steel Chain Tagging Requirements:
Manufacturer/Trade Mark
 Manufacturer’s stock number
 Link Size
 Rated Load and angle rating is based on
 Sling reach


Wire Rope Tagging Requirements:
Manufacturer/Trade Mark
 Manufacturer’s stock number
 Rated capacity in a vertical hitch/ other hitch options
 Size of wire rope

Example of Tags:
Synthetic Sling
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Synthetic slings are made of modified synthetic
fabrics that are weaved or roped together to
provide strength.
There are two main types of synthetic slings:
 Web
Slings
 Round Slings
Web Sling
Round Sling
Synthetic Web Sling

Characteristics:
Soft and Wide
 Do not rust or erode
 Light weight
 Flexible and Elastic
 Less likely to twist when in use
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Warning Yarn
When using web slings it’s important to note that they
can’t be exposed to high temperatures.
Web slings also can be damaged through cuts,
abrasions, and wear and tear. However, most synthetic
web slings have “warning yarn” which indicate when
exposed that the sling has too much damage and
should no longer be used.
Synthetic Web Sling Types
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
Synthetic endless web slings, also know as grommet
slings, are a continuous circle of the fibers creating
the sling
Synthetic web eye-and-eye slings which are created
by sewing an end of the sling to the the sling’s main
body creating two loop holes
Synthetic Round Sling
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Round slings are endless and made from polyester
filament yarn formed into a continuous circle.
The yarn that makes the sling is covered by a woven
sleeve of synthetic fiber to protect it.
When the sling has been stretched beyond a safe
limit, tattle-tail yarns will show indicating the need
to retire the sling.
Alloy Steel Chain Slings


Alloy steel chains can be used for many
different rigging operations
Chain slings are commonly used in high
heat or rugged conditions.
 Alloyed
Sling can be used in
temperatures up to 500 degrees


Chain slings are adjusted over the
center of gravity
The slings can be easily damaged if
loads are dropped on them or
wrapped tightly around corners.
Alloy Steel Chain Sling Types

Single and double basket slings: the chain is
attached to the master link in a permanent hitch
 Do

not require end fitting hardware
Chain bridle slings: have the option of two or four
legged slings.
 Require
hardware such as: eye hooks, grab hooks, plate
hooks, or links
Wire Rope Slings
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Wire rope slings are made from steel wires that are
wrapped around a cord
They are flexible and lighter than alloy chain slings
The cords within the rope move and adjust based on
the stresses placed on the rope when in use
Basic Components:
 Supporting
core
 High-grade steel wires
 Multiple center wires
Wire Rope Slings: Supporting Core

Fiber cores
 Synthetic

Strand cores
 Multiple

fabrics or vegetable fibers
strands all the same size
Independent wire rope cores
 Separate
wire ropes with their
own core and strands
Hitches
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The hitch is the way the sling is arranged to hold a
load, also referred to as rigging configuration.
The type of hitch used depends on the sling, load,
and the intended movement of the load while in
motion.
Types:
 Vertical
 Choker
 Basket
Vertical Hitch
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Vertical Hitches are used to lift a
load straight up and down
Another form of this hitch is a bridle
hitch which consists of two or more
legs within one hitch
This form of hitch allows the load to
rotate freely
 If
you do not want the load to move
freely you must use a form of load
control
Vertical Hitch
Choker Hitch

A choker hitch is used when there are no direct
points of attachment
It is not recommended for loose bundles
 If the item is longer than 12 feet at least 2 choker
hitches are recommended

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
Choker hitches reduce the strength of the sling to
about 25% of the original capacity
The choker hitch is made by looping a sling
around the load and pulling it through the eye
creating a chocker around the load

The passing through the eye is through a shackle
Basket Hitch


Basket hitches are formed by placing the sling
around the load and then placing both eyes on the
hook.
Basket hitches are very versatile and can be used
as double basket hitches for larger loads
 When
creating a double basket hitch make sure your
sling is the correct strength
Two Double
Basket hitches
Rigging Hardware
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

Rigging hardware is what connects the slings, loads,
and lifts together.
Without hardware none of the components of
rigging could be physically connected
Examples include:
 Shackles
 Eyebolts
 Clamps
 Rigging
hooks
Shackles


Shackles are used to hold pieces of the rig together
such as multiple slings or to attach a specific item to
a load
Types of Shackles include:
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Anchor shackles
Chain shackles
Specialty shackles (used when a standard shackle will not work)
Each shackle should be labeled with:
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Trademark
Size of shackle
Rated capacity
Eyebolts

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Eyebolts are bolts with an open end that allows
threading through the bolt
The shank end is attached directly to the load and
the eye is used to thread and attach the sling
Swivel Eye Bolt
Lifting Clamps
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Lifting clamps are used when there is not a use of a
sling.
Lifting clamps can only hold one item at a time.
The clamps have a “jaw” function that grips the item
to be lifted.
Lifting clamps must be made of forged steel and
stamped with maximum capacity
Rigging Hooks
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Rigging hooks are used to attach the sling bearing load
to the machine doing the lifting
Safety laches mush be on the rigging hook to prevent
the sling from becoming unhooked
There are many different types of hooks including:
Shortening Clutches
 Grab hooks
 Reverse Eye hooks
 Sliding choker hooks
 Sorting hooks
 Eye hooks
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