Every lift starts with two questions: do we have the right gear, and is it fit to use? This page answers both. First, a rigging equipment list for construction and industrial lifting. Then a component-by-component inspection checklist with the damage that takes gear out of service, and a pre-lift checklist your crew can run before every pick.
Quick answer: OSHA requires rigging to be inspected by a competent person before use on each shift and as needed during use. ASME adds a documented periodic inspection at least once a year, and more often for severe service. If a sling or piece of hardware has a missing or unreadable tag, cracks, distortion, heat damage or wear past the limits below, remove it from service.
Rigging equipment list
Most lifts use some combination of the gear below. Match each piece to the load weight, the hitch, the sling angle and the environment.
| Equipment | What it does | Common types |
|---|---|---|
| Wire rope slings | Connect the load to the hook. Strong and abrasion resistant | Single-leg, 2-leg, 3-leg, 4-leg bridles |
| Round slings and synthetic slings | Light, flexible, protect finished or delicate loads | Endless round slings, eye-and-eye web slings, high-performance fiber slings |
| Chain slings and overhead lifting chain | Rugged, heat tolerant, adjustable | Grade 100 and Grade 80 alloy chain |
| Shackles | Connect slings, hooks and lifting points | Bow (anchor) and D (chain), screw pin and bolt type |
| Hooks and master links | Attach the rigging to the crane or hoist | Eye hooks with latches, self-locking hooks, master links and sub-assemblies |
| Hoists | Raise, lower and position loads | Hand chain hoists, lever hoists, electric hoists |
| Trolleys and beam clamps | Hang a hoist from a beam and move it along | Push trolleys, geared trolleys, beam clamps |
| Crane rope | Hoist and boom lines on cranes | Standard 6-strand, 8-strand and rotation-resistant rope |
| Wire rope fittings | Terminate and protect rope | Wire rope clips, thimbles, wedge sockets, swivels |
| Spreader bars and lifting beams | Keep sling legs apart, control angles and balance long loads | Fixed and adjustable spreaders |
| Load monitoring | Confirm actual load weight | Load cells, dynamometers, crane load indicators |
| Softeners and tag lines | Protect slings from sharp edges and control swing | Wear sleeves, corner protectors, tag lines |
New to the vocabulary? Our wire rope rigging terms glossary defines every piece above.
How often rigging must be inspected
| Inspection | Who | When |
|---|---|---|
| Initial | Designated or qualified person | Before new, altered or repaired gear goes into service |
| Frequent (daily / pre-use) | Competent person or the user | Before use on each shift, and during use when conditions warrant |
| Periodic | Designated or qualified person | At least annually for normal service, monthly to quarterly for severe service. Keep a written record |
OSHA 1910.184 (general industry) and 1926.251 (construction) set the shift-by-shift requirement. ASME B30.9 (slings), B30.26 (rigging hardware) and B30.10 (hooks) set the periodic inspection and the removal criteria below. Your company's program and the manufacturer's instructions may be stricter. Follow the stricter rule.
Rigging inspection checklist by component
Inspect each item before use. If you find any condition in the right-hand column, tag the item out of service until a qualified person clears or replaces it.
Wire rope slings
| Check | Remove from service if… |
|---|---|
| ID tag | Tag missing or unreadable (rated capacity unknown) |
| Broken wires | 10 randomly broken wires in one rope lay, or 5 broken wires in one strand in one rope lay (single-part slings) |
| Rope body | Kinking, crushing, birdcaging, core protrusion or other distortion |
| Wear | Severe localized abrasion or scraping, or reduced diameter |
| Heat | Discoloration, weld spatter or arc strikes |
| Corrosion | Pitting or corrosion of the rope or fittings |
| End fittings and eyes | Cracked, deformed or worn sleeves, thimbles or hooks; slippage at the splice |
See what each failure looks like in common wire rope sling failures.
Round slings and synthetic web slings
| Check | Remove from service if… |
|---|---|
| ID tag | Tag missing or unreadable |
| Cover / webbing | Holes, tears, cuts or snags; core yarns showing through a round sling cover |
| Warning yarns | Red (or other) warning yarns visible on web slings |
| Heat and chemicals | Melting, charring, stiff or glazed areas; acid or caustic burns |
| Stitching | Broken or worn stitching in load-bearing splices |
| Knots and wear | Any knot in the sling; excessive abrasive wear |
| Fittings | Pitted, corroded, cracked, bent, twisted or broken fittings |
Round slings are rated by color. Check the tag matches the round sling color chart, and never rely on color alone.
Alloy chain slings
| Check | Remove from service if… |
|---|---|
| ID tag | Tag missing or unreadable |
| Links | Cracks, stretched links, bent or twisted links, links that don't hinge freely |
| Wear | Wear, nicks or gouges past the manufacturer's minimum thickness |
| Heat and welding | Heat damage, weld spatter, arc strikes |
| Corrosion | Excessive pitting or corrosion |
| Grade | Not alloy chain (Grade 80 or 100) for overhead lifting |
Shackles
| Check | Remove from service if… |
|---|---|
| Markings | Manufacturer name or WLL missing or unreadable |
| Body and pin | Bent, twisted, stretched, elongated, cracked or broken |
| Wear | 10% reduction of the original dimension at any point on the body or pin |
| Pin engagement | Pin won't fully seat; excessive thread damage |
| Heat and welding | Heat damage or any unauthorized welding |
| Parts | Mismatched or non-original pin |
Sizes, ratings and side-load reductions are in our shackle WLL chart.
Hooks
| Check | Remove from service if… |
|---|---|
| Markings | Rated load or manufacturer ID missing or unreadable |
| Throat opening | Opened beyond the manufacturer's limit (a common limit is 5%, not over 1/4") |
| Twist | Twisted more than 10° from the plane of the unbent hook |
| Wear | More than 10% wear of the original section dimension, or cracks, nicks and gouges |
| Latch | Latch missing, bent or not closing when one is required |
| Heat | Heat damage or unauthorized welding |
Hoists, trolleys and beam clamps
- Load chain: no stretch, twisted links, nicks or wear; chain feeds smoothly through the hoist.
- Brake: holds the load with no drift.
- Hooks: same criteria as above, latches working.
- Rated capacity marked and legible on the hoist, trolley and clamp.
- Trolley wheels and beam clamp jaws fit the beam flange and are locked in place.
- Body and housing: no cracks, missing fasteners or distortion.
Wire rope clips and fittings
- Saddle on the live end ("never saddle a dead horse").
- Correct number of clips and turnback for the rope size, nuts torqued to spec. See the clip chart in our rigging terms glossary.
- Thimbles seated and not crushed; swivels turn freely.
Spreader bars and lifting beams
- Rated capacity and weight marked.
- No bending, cracked welds, deformation or damaged lifting lugs.
- Rigging below the beam is rated for the load it carries.
Daily pre-lift checklist
Run this before every lift. It takes a few minutes and catches most of what causes dropped loads.
| # | Check | Done |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Know the load weight, including rigging, and where its center of gravity is | ☐ |
| 2 | Choose the hitch and confirm the sling's rated capacity for that hitch and sling angle (capacity chart) | ☐ |
| 3 | Keep sling angles at 45° or more from horizontal, 60° or more where you can (why angles matter) | ☐ |
| 4 | Inspect every sling, shackle, hook and fitting against the checklist above | ☐ |
| 5 | Protect slings from sharp edges with softeners or wear sleeves | ☐ |
| 6 | Check the crane or hoist: brakes, limits, hook latch, rated capacity | ☐ |
| 7 | Check ground conditions, outriggers, overhead lines and the swing path | ☐ |
| 8 | Assign one signal person, agree on signals, attach tag lines | ☐ |
| 9 | Clear the area. No one under the load | ☐ |
| 10 | Lift a few inches, stop, and check balance and rigging before the full lift | ☐ |
Construction vs. industrial lifting
- Construction sites: dirt, weather and rough handling. Favor wire rope and chain slings, rated shackles, softeners, and gear that holds up outdoors. Inspect more often because conditions change daily.
- Industrial facilities and plants: overhead cranes, repeat lifts and finished equipment. Round slings protect machined surfaces, and hoists with trolleys handle positioning. Heat, chemicals and repeat cycles can put slings in severe service, which shortens the periodic inspection interval.
- Mining: abrasion, heavy loads and remote sites. Keep spares on hand and track inspections closely.
Keep records and tag-out
Tag damaged gear "Do Not Use" and pull it from the rack immediately so it can't come back into service by accident. Record each periodic inspection with the item ID, date, inspector and condition. Inspection tracking systems like Check-Fast make this easier for large sling inventories.
Get gear or a replacement
Elko Wire Rope builds wire rope slings to spec and stocks synthetic slings, shackles, chain, hoists and crane rope at our Salt Lake City, Elko, Phoenix and Safford branches. If something fails inspection, tell us what you need and we'll get a replacement to you fast.
Rigging Inspection FAQs
How often does rigging equipment need to be inspected?
Before use on each shift by a competent person, plus a documented periodic inspection at least once a year. Severe service may require monthly or quarterly periodic inspections.
Who can inspect rigging?
Daily inspections are done by a competent person designated by the employer, often the rigger using the gear. Periodic inspections are done by a designated or qualified person.
What is the most common reason to remove a sling from service?
A missing or unreadable ID tag. Without it, the rated capacity is unknown and the sling can't be used.
Do I need to keep inspection records?
Keep written records of periodic inspections. Many companies also log daily inspections, which helps with audits and with tracking gear that wears out quickly.
What rigging equipment do I need for a construction job?
At minimum: slings rated for the load and hitch, shackles, a hook with a working latch, softeners for sharp edges and tag lines. Add spreader bars for long loads and a hoist or come-along for positioning.
