wire rope clips osha pricelist

This responds to your June 1, 1999, letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), requesting information on wire rope and Crosby clips used around the perimeter of buildings as a guardrail. You also requested clarification on when employees must tie-off when a guardrail system is removed to facilitate hoisting operations. We apologize for the long delay in providing this response.

Question 1: How many Crosby clips are required to be used when setting up a wire rope guardrail? Is it permissible to splice two wire ropes by overlapping or must the connections be turned back into eyelets and properly secured?

Answer: For construction work covered by 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, §1926.502(b) sets forth the criteria that must be met when using wire rope as a guardrail. The standard requires guardrails to meet several specific criteria. For example, 1926.502(b)(3) states that the guardrail shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds applied within 2 inches of the top edge, in any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top edge. Section 1926.502(b)(4) states that when the 200 pound test load noted in §1926.502(b)(3) is applied in a downward direction, the top edge of the guardrail shall not deflect to a height less than 39 inches above the walking/working level. Section 1926.502(b)(9) states that the top rail and mid-rails shall be at least ¼-inch nominal diameter or thickness to prevent cuts and lacerations. These and other criteria must be met when using wire rope as a guardrail around the perimeter of a building.

The OSHA standard does not specify a minimum number of clips when using wire rope as a guardrail. However, as a practical matter, it is unlikely you could meet the specific requirements under §1926.502(b) unless you follow the manufacturer"s recommendations for the number of clips to be used on wire ropes of different diameters (for example, the Crosby Group Inc. general catalog, 2000 edition has tables showing their recommendations for their clips). Also, note that OSHA"s standard for rigging equipment used for material handling, 29 CFR §1926.251, has a table for the number of clips required for wire rope ½-inch and greater. Although that standard does not apply to wire rope used for guardrails, when you design a rope system to meet the §1926.502 requirements, following those tables will normally ensure that you have enough clips.

If you need additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, fax # 202-693-1689. You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.

Re: Wire rope clips on suspension scaffolds; safety latches on large crane hooks; hanging scaffolds - order of assembly; jobsite fabricated lifting accessories - criteria; and horizontal lifelines: use of wire rope clips, anchorages, number of persons allowed to be connected, requirements relating to sag, and use of synthetic rope.

This is in response to your facsimile dated November 14, 2003, to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We have paraphrased your questions as follows:

Question 1(a) - (c): When using horizontal lifelines as part of personal fall arrest systems, what type of wire rope clips does OSHA require, and how many clips must be used? Additionally, what are the horizontal spacing criteria for the uprights?

Subpart M does not specify what type of wire rope clip or how many clips/clamps must be used when installing a horizontal lifeline. However, under §1926.502(d)(8), these decisions must be made under the supervision of a qualified person when the system is designed. The determination of the horizontal spacing criteria for uprights is also left to the qualified person"s supervisory approval.1

In an August 28, 2000 letter to Mr. Troxell2, we addressed the related issue of using wire rope clips on a wire rope guardrail. In that letter, we cautioned that, as a practical matter, it is unlikely that the criteria requirements for guardrails under §1926.502(b) could be met unless the manufacturer"s recommendations for the number of clips to be used on wire ropes of different diameters were followed (for example, the Crosby Group, Inc., general catalog 2000 edition, has tables showing their recommendations for their clips). We also pointed out that OSHA"s standard for rigging equipment used for material handling, 29 CFR 1926.251, has a table showing the number of clips required for wire rope ½-inch and greater. We noted that although that standard does not apply to wire rope used for guardrails, when designing a rope system to meet the §1926.502 guardrail requirements, following the tables at §1926.251 will normally ensure that there will be enough clips.

The forces exerted on a horizontal lifeline are substantially greater than those on a typical guardrail. Therefore, the system designer needs to ensure that the number, type, and location of clips will withstand the anticipated forces and meet the performance requirements in §1926.502 for horizontal lifelines.

Question 2: For a horizontal lifeline used as part of a personal fall arrest system during steel erection work, how tight should the lifeline be, and may synthetic rope be used for the horizontal lifeline?

Therefore, a qualified person is required to determine how tight the lifeline should be based on site-specific factors. No other requirements are imposed by OSHA regarding the tightness of the lifeline, so long as it comports with a safety factor of at least two.

With regard to the use of synthetic ropes, §1926.502(d)(14) specifies that, when using non-wire rope, synthetic rope (rather than nature fiber rope) must be used:

Question 4: Are there OSHA standards that specify criteria for constructing jobsite fabricated rigging equipment such as an equalizing beam, lifting beam, spreader beam, equalizing plates, tee lugs, lifting lugs, and welded scaffold brackets?

The only OSHA construction standards that contains specific criteria related to the construction of special custom design lifting accessories is 29 CFR 1926.251(a)(4), which states:

Question 5: Under §1926.451(d)(12)(v) and (vi), when wire rope clips are used on suspension scaffolds, "(v) U-bolt clips shall not be used at the point of suspension for any scaffold hoist," and "(vi) when U-bolt clips are used, the U-bolt shall be placed over the dead end of the rope, and the saddle shall be placed over the live end of the rope." Does §1926.451(d)(12)(v) contradict paragraph (d)(12)(vi)?

No. By its terms, §1926.451(d)(12)(v) prohibits the use of U-bolt clips at the point of suspension for any scaffold. The scaffold standard does not prohibit using U-bolt clips elsewhere. However, when using them elsewhere, under §1926.451(d)(12)(vi), the U-bolt must be placed over the dead end of the rope, and the saddle placed over the live end of the rope.

Question 6: Under §1926.251(c)(4)(iii), are eyes in wire rope bridles and slings or bull wires formed by wire rope clips permitted when used to lift scrap boxes or pendants?

This provision specifically prohibits eyes in wire rope bridles and slings or bull wires being formed by wire rope clips. There is no exception for lifting scrap boxes or pendants.

There are no OSHA standards setting criteria for horizontal high-lines. However, an employer"s use of a horizontal high-line must be in accordance with its obligations under Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the "General Duty Clause"), which states:

In our view, the industry recognizes that the following engineering factors, among others, must be considered when designing horizontal high-lines: the span and sag of the wire rope line, the weight of the load being lifted, the initial tension of the rope line, and the size of the columns.

OSHA requirements for a safety latch on hooks do not depend of the size of the hook but rather the activity for which the hook is being used. Safety latches on hooks are required in two instances:

Knotting wire rope compromises the integrity of the strength of the wire rope and is therefore prohibited. Based on the picture provided, which showed a knot in wire rope secured by a U-bolt clip, this practice would be in violation of §1926.251(c)(3).

Question 10: Do OSHA standards require the attachment of an orange and white flag to the highest point of a crane that is being used in the vicinity of an airport?

There are no OSHA standards that require the highest point of a crane to be marked to enhance visibility to air traffic. However, the use of a crane in the vicinity of an airport may be subject to requirements set by other regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration.

Question 11: Do OSHA standards specify a particular anchorage point for connecting the lanyards of workers on crane suspended personnel platforms? Do the standards limit the number of such workers that can be attached to an anchorage point?

If you need additional information, please contact us by fax (202-693-1689) at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance. You can also contact us by mail at U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.

Assistant Secretary John H. Stender has asked me to respond to your letter dated February 11, 1975, requesting a permanent variance from Section 1926.251(c)(4)(iii) Rigging Equipment for Material Handling - Wire Rope, of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations for Construction.

The requirements of the above standard are, "Eyes in wire rope bridles, slings, or bull wire shall not be formed by wire rope clips or knots." You have stated that in your operation the frequent changing of the reeving and working tools precludes the use of a spliced or wedged eye on the running ropes of your crawler cranes.

It appears from the information supplied by you that prohibiting the use of wire clips in forming eyes in wire ropes, applies to the bridles and slings used and not to the running ropes on your cranes. In this regard please note Section 1926.251(c)(5) that states, "When U-Bolt wire rope clips are used to form eyes, Table H-20 shall be used to determine the number and spacing of clips." A copy of Part 1926 is enclosed for your guidance.

Original equipment wire rope and replacement wire rope must be selected and installed in accordance with the requirements of this section. Selection of replacement wire rope must be in accordance with the recommendations of the wire rope manufacturer, the equipment manufacturer, or a qualified person.

Wire rope design criteria: Wire rope (other than rotation resistant rope) must comply with either Option (1) or Option (2) of this section, as follows:

Option (1). Wire rope must comply with section 5-1.7.1 of ASME B30.5-2004 (incorporated by reference, see § 1926.6) except that section"s paragraph (c) must not apply.

Option (2). Wire rope must be designed to have, in relation to the equipment"s rated capacity, a sufficient minimum breaking force and design factor so that compliance with the applicable inspection provisions in § 1926.1413 will be an effective means of preventing sudden rope failure.

Type I rotation resistant wire rope ("Type I"). Type I rotation resistant rope is stranded rope constructed to have little or no tendency to rotate or, if guided, transmits little or no torque. It has at least 15 outer strands and comprises an assembly of at least three layers of strands laid helically over a center in two operations. The direction of lay of the outer strands is opposite to that of the underlying layer.

Type II rotation resistant wire rope ("Type II"). Type II rotation resistant rope is stranded rope constructed to have significant resistance to rotation. It has at least 10 outer strands and comprises an assembly of two or more layers of strands laid helically over a center in two or three operations. The direction of lay of the outer strands is opposite to that of the underlying layer.

Type III rotation resistant wire rope ("Type III"). Type III rotation resistant rope is stranded rope constructed to have limited resistance to rotation. It has no more than nine outer strands, and comprises an assembly of two layers of strands laid helically over a center in two operations. The direction of lay of the outer strands is opposite to that of the underlying layer.

Type I must have an operating design factor of no less than 5, except where the wire rope manufacturer and the equipment manufacturer approves the design factor, in writing.

A qualified person must inspect the rope in accordance with § 1926.1413(a). The rope must be used only if the qualified person determines that there are no deficiencies constituting a hazard. In making this determination, more than one broken wire in any one rope lay must be considered a hazard.

Each lift made under § 1926.1414(e)(3) must be recorded in the monthly and annual inspection documents. Such prior uses must be considered by the qualified person in determining whether to use the rope again.

Rotation resistant ropes may be used as boom hoist reeving when load hoists are used as boom hoists for attachments such as luffing attachments or boom and mast attachment systems. Under these conditions, all of the following requirements must be met:

The requirements in ASME B30.5-2004 sections 5-1.3.2(a), (a)(2) through (a)(4), (b) and (d) (incorporated by reference, see § 1926.6) except that the minimum pitch diameter for sheaves used in multiple rope reeving is 18 times the nominal diameter of the rope used (instead of the value of 16 specified in section 5-1.3.2(d)).

The operating design factor for these ropes must be the total minimum breaking force of all parts of rope in the system divided by the load imposed on the rope system when supporting the static weights of the structure and the load within the equipment"s rated capacity.

Wire rope clips used in conjunction with wedge sockets must be attached to the unloaded dead end of the rope only, except that the use of devices specifically designed for dead-ending rope in a wedge socket is permitted.

Prior to cutting a wire rope, seizings must be placed on each side of the point to be cut. The length and number of seizings must be in accordance with the wire rope manufacturer"s instructions.

An eye splice made in any wire rope shall have at least three tucks with a whole strand of rope and two tucks with one-half of the wires cut out of each strand. However, this requirement shall not operate to preclude the use of another form of splice or connection which can be shown to be as efficient and which is not prohibited by part 1918 of this chapter.

Except for eye splices in the ends of wires, each wire rope used in hoisting or lowering, in guying derricks, or as a topping lift, preventer or pendant shall consist of one continuous piece without knot or splice.

The ends of falls shall be secured to the winch drums by clamps, U-bolts, shackles or some other equally strong method. Fiber rope fastenings shall not be used.

Wire rope shall not be used for the vessel"s cargo gear if in any length of eight diameters, the total number of visible broken wires exceeds 10 percent of the total number of wires, or if the rope shows other signs of excessive wear, corrosion, or defect. Particular attention shall be given to the condition of those sections of wire rope adjacent to any terminal connections, those sections exposed to abnormal wear, and those sections not normally exposed for examination.

This is in response to your letter dated February 4, 2003, to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). You ask for an interpretation of our fall protection standard §1926.502 (fall protection systems criteria and practices) regarding the use of U-bolt-type clamps. We apologize for the delay in providing this response.

Under Subpart M, is it permissible to use U-bolt-type clamps in the design of a wire rope horizontal lifeline attached to a billboard, with the saddle on the live side of the cable?

a supported scaffold consisting of a platform supported by brackets which are secured in place around the circumference or perimeter of a chimney stack, tank or other supporting structure by one or more wire ropes placed around the supporting structure.

…Where wire rope is used to secure brackets, U-bolt clips shall not be used because a segment of damaged dead end could later become part of the live end due to an increase in the circumference of the structure. By contrast, the standard allows U-bolts in other applications, such as where the U-Bolt is used at the end (dead end) of the wire rope and that part of the wire rope is never moved into the live section… [Emphasis added.]

As explained in the preamble to the scaffold standard, the reason this prohibition was included in the scaffold standard for repair bracket scaffolds was that the U-bolt clips often pinch and decrease the strength of the rope. Since repair bracket scaffolds must be expanded as the work progresses, the pinched (and weakened) part of the wire rope would eventually wind up in the "live end." This, then, was a concern that was specific to repair bracket scaffolds, and therefore the prohibition was included only for that type of scaffold.

As you indicated in your letter, there is no similar restriction on the use of U-bolt clips in Subpart M. As long as the strength and other criteria requirements in §1926.502 for horizontal lifelines are met, the U-bolt clips may be used. When rigged with the saddle side of the clip on the live (loaded) portion of the line, the pinching/damage will typically be limited to the dead end of the rope, and thus not decrease safety.

Note, though, that if you were to reconfigure the system after the clips had damaged part of the wire rope so that the damaged section became part of the "live end" of a horizontal lifeline, it is unlikely that you would be able to meet the strength requirements in §1926.502. Also, under §1926.502(d)(21):

If you need additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, [Office of Construction Standards and Compliance Guidance], fax # 202-693-1689. You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.

Patent stoppers of the clamp type shall be appropriate for the size of the rope used. Clamps shall be in good condition and free of any substance that would prevent their being drawn tight.

The end of the winch fall shall be secured to the drum by clamps, U-bolts, shackles, or other equally strong methods. Fiber rope fastenings shall not be used.

When an employee works in the bight formed by the heel block, a preventer at least three-quarters of an inch (1.91 cm) in diameter wire rope shall be securely rigged, or equally effective means shall be taken, to hold the block and fall if the heel block attachments fail. Where physical limitations prohibit the fitting of a wire rope preventer of the required size, two turns of a one-half inch (1.27 cm) diameter wire rope shall be sufficient.

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New OSHA standards have improved the regulations for slings. This new revision to the regulations requires that all slings regardless of the material require permanently affixed identification tags. This revision is part of the Standards Improvement Project Phase III. This project is to improve and streamline OSHA Standards. There are so many standards out there that the rules are so confusing, or duplicate what has already been said somewhere else and even written a different way causing much inconsistency. Many regulations are even outdated and should not apply in today"s world. This improvement project will help employers to understand the regulations better. Through better understanding employers will work safer, and be in compliance. After reading the revised regulations I think they did an excellent job at rewording much of the regulations but they did a poor job at duplicating the same message in every section. Every sections still tells you that you have to have a capacity label on anything. I would think it would be easier to read if they had a section for all lifting equipment that stated what is required for all devices regardless of what they are made of. This would save a lot of time reading the same thing over and over again every time you come to a different section.

There are several new changes to sling capacity labels and shackle markings that took effect on July 8th 2011. Previously many slings had a load capacity chart if it was a synthetic sling, or if it was a wire rope sling it had no rated capacity at all.

Wire rope slings have the most significant change in the entire revisal. Prior to this wire rope slings did not require a capacity label. Here are the revised regulations for wire rope slings.

• Wire-rope slings—(1) Sling use. Employers must use only wire-rope slings that have permanently affixed and legible identification markings as prescribed by the manufacturer, and that indicate the recommended safe working load for the type(s) of hitch(es) used, the angle upon which it is based, and the number of legs if more than one.

You never see natural or synthetic fiber-rope slings used today in the crane industry. There still are regulations for them since you may see them used in manual lift with shackle blocks.

• Natural and synthetic fiber-rope slings— Sling use. Employers must use natural and synthetic fiber-rope slings that have permanently affixed and legible identification markings stating the rated capacity for the type(s) of hitch(es) used and the angle upon which it is based, type of fiber material, and the number of legs if more than one.

• Manila rope and manila-rope slings. Employers must ensure that manila rope and manila-rope slings: Have permanently affixed and legible identification markings as

• Employers must not use improved plow-steel wire rope and wire-rope slings with loads in excess of the rated capacities (i.e., working load limits) indicated on the sling by permanently affixed and legible identification markings prescribed by the manufacturer.

• Wire rope slings shall have permanently affixed, legible identification markings stating size, rated capacity for the type(s) of hitch(es) used and the angle upon which it is based, and the number of legs if more than one.

• Employers must not use natural and synthetic-fiber rope slings with loads in excess of the rated capacities (i.e., working load limits) indicated on the sling by permanently affixed and legible identification markings prescribed by the manufacturer.

• Employers must use natural- and synthetic-fiber rope slings that have permanently affixed and legible identification markings that state the rated capacity for the type(s) of hitch(es) used and the angle upon which it is based, type of fiber material, and the number of legs if more than one.

Below the hook devices are the most overlooked part of any inspection on a crane, especially when they are not stored on the crane itself. What you have read are all of the new regulations and the revised wording of the OSHA regulations on slings. It is very important to understand what codes your equipment fall under. If you are unsure contact your service provider and they will go over with you any regulations that you would like clarification on.

OSHA’s steel erection standard 29 CFR Subpart R 1926.760, encompasses new construction, alteration or repair of “structures” when the erection of steel takes place. Specifically excluded from coverage are Tanks, Electrical Transmission Towers and Communication or Broadcast Towers.

We’ll start with ANSI, which establishes a set of “best practices.” These are voluntary standards. OSHA may adopt ANSI standards by amendment, as a whole or in part.

At minimum, your internal regs must meet OSHA requirements. They may reflect ANSI standards, even if not adopted by OSHA, or be your own. Once adopted, you must comply.

Look at criteria C and E above. Both reference a six-foot drop. Some time ago a GC sent this question to OSHA and received the accompanying interpretation:

Answer: §1926.502(d)(16) also requires that the maximum arresting force be limited to 900 pounds when the personal fall arrest system incorporates a body belt and 1800 pounds when the system incorporates a body harness. If the employer has documentation to demonstrate that these maximum arresting forces are not exceeded and that the personal fall arrest system will operate properly, OSHA will not issue a citation for violation of the free fall distance.

• 3/8″ galvanized cable has an M.B.L. (minimum break load) of approximately 14,000 lbs. So it’s good for two people right? Wrong. Example: In the mid-90s My Wire Rope Company sold a trailer manufacturer 100 ft. of 3/8” cable with a large turn buckle at one end. Unfortunately my order desk didn’t ask enough questions on what the application was. They strung it above the trailers and tightened it tight enough to play a song on it. They dropped a pulley on the cable and hooked a retractable to it; the employee could go along the top of the trailer stapling the roof. When the supervisor wasn’t looking, one of the employees decided to use it as a zip line and run off the back of the trailer to see how far he could go down the line. Another employee would pick him up with a boom truck when he stopped. The cable snapped on the first try, resulting in a few broken bones. Engineers use some of these factors when calculating deflection under load (Diagram 3)

• Load: Only a few retractables are on the market designed for foot level drops and even fewer designed for below the feet drops. The unit engineered into the system above has a mechanical shock absorber with a disk brake mechanism designed for free falls up to 78″ when tied to a rigid tie-off point, keeping the impact to the body under 900 lbs. Another benefit of the acceptable retractable: the line is under tension during the drop. The web or wire coils back into the unit and then the disk brake kicks in for a soft drop with less chance of lower level contact. Plus, when dropping on a catenary line (not a rigid tie-off point) there is shock absorber capability in the line itself. This lessens the impact to the line and increases the safety factor.

Not if the engineer’s design will allow it. According to the wire rope Technical Board D/d ratio on 3/8″ cable with a 3/8″ pin there is a 50% reduction. But since the eye is twice as strong as the body in a pull test, the cable always breaks at the weakest link behind the last D.F. clip. Note: Rule of thumb for added safety factor always go one size up on the shackle.

A competent person must begin a visual inspection prior to each shift the equipment is used, which must be completed before or during that shift. The inspection must consist of observation of wire ropes (running and standing) that are likely to be in use during the shift for apparent deficiencies, including those listed in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. Untwisting (opening) of wire rope or booming down is not required as part of this inspection.

Significant distortion of the wire rope structure such as kinking, crushing, unstranding, birdcaging, signs of core failure or steel core protrusion between the outer strands.

In running wire ropes: Six randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay or three broken wires in one strand in one rope lay, where a rope lay is the length along the rope in which one strand makes a complete revolution around the rope.

In rotation resistant ropes: Two randomly distributed broken wires in six rope diameters or four randomly distributed broken wires in 30 rope diameters.

In pendants or standing wire ropes: More than two broken wires in one rope lay located in rope beyond end connections and/or more than one broken wire in a rope lay located at an end connection.

If a deficiency in Category I (see paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section) is identified, an immediate determination must be made by the competent person as to whether the deficiency constitutes a safety hazard. If the deficiency is determined to constitute a safety hazard, operations involving use of the wire rope in question must be prohibited until:

If the deficiency is localized, the problem is corrected by severing the wire rope in two; the undamaged portion may continue to be used. Joining lengths of wire rope by splicing is prohibited. If a rope is shortened under this paragraph, the employer must ensure that the drum will still have two wraps of wire when the load and/or boom is in its lowest position.

If a deficiency in Category II (see paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section) is identified, operations involving use of the wire rope in question must be prohibited until:

The employer complies with the wire rope manufacturer"s established criterion for removal from service or a different criterion that the wire rope manufacturer has approved in writing for that specific wire rope (see § 1926.1417),

If the deficiency is localized, the problem is corrected by severing the wire rope in two; the undamaged portion may continue to be used. Joining lengths of wire rope by splicing is prohibited. If a rope is shortened under this paragraph, the employer must ensure that the drum will still have two wraps of wire when the load and/or boom is in its lowest position.

If the deficiency (other than power line contact) is localized, the problem is corrected by severing the wire rope in two; the undamaged portion may continue to be used. Joining lengths of wire rope by splicing is prohibited. Repair of wire rope that contacted an energized power line is also prohibited. If a rope is shortened under this paragraph, the employer must ensure that the drum will still have two wraps of wire when the load and/or boom is in its lowest position.

Where a wire rope is required to be removed from service under this section, either the equipment (as a whole) or the hoist with that wire rope must be tagged-out, in accordance with § 1926.1417(f)(1), until the wire rope is repaired or replaced.

Wire ropes on equipment must not be used until an inspection under this paragraph demonstrates that no corrective action under paragraph (a)(4) of this section is required.

At least every 12 months, wire ropes in use on equipment must be inspected by a qualified person in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section (shift inspection).

The inspection must be complete and thorough, covering the surface of the entire length of the wire ropes, with particular attention given to all of the following:

Exception: In the event an inspection under paragraph (c)(2) of this section is not feasible due to existing set-up and configuration of the equipment (such as where an assist crane is needed) or due to site conditions (such as a dense urban setting), such inspections must be conducted as soon as it becomes feasible, but no longer than an additional 6 months for running ropes and, for standing ropes, at the time of disassembly.

If the deficiency is localized, the problem is corrected by severing the wire rope in two; the undamaged portion may continue to be used. Joining lengths of wire rope by splicing is prohibited. If a rope is shortened under this paragraph, the employer must ensure that the drum will still have two wraps of wire when the load and/or boom is in its lowest position.

Although OSHA"s sling standard does not require you to make and maintain records of inspections, the ASME standard contains provisions on inspection records.

Ensure that wire rope slings have suitable characteristics for the type of load, hitch, and environment in which they will be used and that they are not used with loads in excess of the rated load capacities described in the appropriate tables. When D/d ratios (Fig. 4) are smaller than those listed in the tables, consult the sling manufacturer. Follow other safe operating practices, including:

When D/dratios (see Fig. 6) smaller than those cited in the tables are necessary, ensure that the rated load of the sling is decreased. Consult the sling manufacturer for specific data or refer to the WRTB (Wire Rope Technical Board) Wire Rope Sling Users Manual, and

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