Inspection & Removal Criteria Quick-Guides

Wire Rope Slings (PER B30.9)

Wire Rope Slings shall be removed from service if any of the following conditions are present:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Broken Wires:
    • For strand-laid and single-part slings, 10 randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or 5 broken wires in one strand in one rope lay.
    • For cable-laid slings, 20 broken wires per lay.
    • For less than eight-part braided slings, 20 broken wires per braid.
    • For eight-part or more than eight braided slings, 40 broken wires per braid.
  • Severe localized abrasion or scraping.
  • Kinking, crushing, bird caging, or any other damage resulting in damage to the rope structure.
  • Evidence of heat damage.
  • End attachments that are cracked, deformed, or worn to the extent that the strength of the sling is substantially affected.
  • Severe corrosion of the rope, end attachments, or fittings.
  • For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10.
  • For rigging hardware, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.26
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use of the sling.

Synthetic Flat Web Slings (PER B30.9)

Synthetic Web Slings shall be removed from service if any of the following conditions exist:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Acid or caustic burns.
  • Melting or charring of any part of the sling.
  • Holes, tears, cuts, or snags.
  • Broken or worn stitching in load bearing splices.
  • Excessive abrasive wear.
  • Knots in any part of the sling.
  • Discoloration & brittle or stiff areas on any part of the sling, may mean chemical or ultraviolet/sunlight damage.
  • Fittings that are pitted, corroded, cracked, bent, twisted, gouged, or broken.
  • For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10.
  • For rigging hardware, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.26
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use of the sling.

Alloy Steel Chain Slings (PER B30.9)

Alloy Steel Chain Slings shall be removed from service if any of the following conditions are present:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Cracks or breaks
  • Excessive wear, nicks, or gouges.
  • Stretched chain links or components
  • Bent, twisted, or deformed chain links or components.
  • Evidence of heat damage.
  • Excessive pitting or corrosion.
  • Lack of ability of chain or components to hinge (articulate) freely.
  • Weld splatter.
  • For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10
  • For rigging hardware, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.26
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use of the sling.

Polyester Roundslings (PER B30.9)

Roundslings shall be removed from service if any of the following conditions exist:

  • Missing or illegible sling identification.
  • Acid or caustic burns.
  • Evidence of heat damage.
  • Holes, tears, cuts, abrasive wear, or snags that expose the core yarns.
  • Broken or damaged core yarns.
  • Weld splatter that exposes core yarns.
  • Knots in the roundslings, except for termination points of core yarns inside the cover.
  • Fittings that are pitted, corroded, cracked, bent, twisted, gouged, or broken.
  • For hooks, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.10.
  • For rigging hardware, removal criteria as stated in ASME B30.26.
  • Any other condition that may cause doubt as to the continued
    use of the sling.

Hooks (PER B30.10)

Hooks having damage or wear described as follows shall be repaired or replaced:

  • Cracks, nicks, and gouges that compromise the integrity of the hook. Repair of cracks, nicks, and gouges shall be carried out by a designated person by grinding longitudinally, following the contour of the hook, provided no dimension is reduced more than 10% (or as recommended by the manufacturer) of its original value.
  • Wear exceeding 10% (or as recommended by the manufacturer) of the original sectional dimension.
  • Any visibly apparent bend or twist from the plane of the unbent hook.
  • Any distortion causing an increase in throat opening of 5%, not to exceed 1⁄4 in. (or as recommended by the manufacturer)
  • Inability of self-locking hooks to lock.
  • A hook latch that is inoperative shall be repaired, replaced, or removed if not required.
  • If a required latch is inoperable and cannot be immediately repaired or replaced, the hook shall be sufficiently moused to
    retain loose items as defined in para. 10-1.3(c) until the latch is repaired or replaced.
  • When reassembling shank hooks, original securing methods or manufacturer’s recommendations shall be followed.
  • All replacement parts shall be at least equal to the original manufacturer’s specifications.
  • Hooks without provision for latches may be moused to retain loose items as defined in para. 10-1.3(c).
  • For special lifting applications where the throat opening is required to be closed, mousing may be used in place of the latch to retain loose items as defined in para. 10-1.3(c), when approved by a qualified person.

Shackles (PER B30.26)

Shackles shall be removed from service if damage such as the following is visible and shall only be returned to service when approved by a qualified person:

  • Missing or illegible manufacturer’s name or trademark and/or rated load identification.
  • Indications of heat damage including weld spatter or arc strikes.
  • Excessive pitting or corrosion.
  • Bent, twisted, distorted, stretched, elongated, cracked, or broken load-bearing components.
  • Excessive nicks or gouges.
  • A 10% reduction of the original or catalog dimension at any point around the body or pin.
  • Incomplete pin engagement.
  • Excessive thread damage.
  • Evidence of unauthorized welding.
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to the continued use of the shackle.

Eyebolts, Eye Nuts, Swivel Hoist Rings, Turnbuckles (PER B30.26)

Adjustable hardware shall be removed from service if damage such as the following is present and shall only be returned to service when approved by a qualified person:

  • Missing or illegible identification.
  • Indications of heat damage including weld spatter or arc strikes.
  • Excessive pitting or corrosion.
  • Bent, twisted, distorted, stretched, elongated, cracked, or broken load-bearing components.
  • Excessive nicks or gouges.
  • A 10% reduction of the original or catalog dimension at any point.
  • Excessive thread damage or wear.
  • Evidence of unauthorized welding or modification.
  • For swivel hoist rings, lack of the ability to freely rotate or pivot.
  • Other conditions, including visible damage, that cause doubt as to continued use.

Links, rings, and swivels shall be removed from service if conditions such as the following are present and shall only be returned to service when approved by a qualified person:

  • Missing or illegible identification.
  • Indications of heat damage, including weld spatter or arc strikes.
  • Excessive pitting or corrosion.
  • Bent, twisted, distorted, stretched, elongated, cracked, or broken load bearing components.
  • Excessive nicks or gouges.
  • A 10% reduction of the original or catalog dimension at any point.
  • Evidence of unauthorized welding or modification.
  • For swivels, lack of the ability to freely rotate when not loaded.
  • For swivels, loose or missing nuts, bolts, cotter pins, snap rings, or other fasteners and retaining devices.
  • Other conditions, including visible damage that cause doubt as to continued use.