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Scope. This section applies to slings used in conjunction with other material handling equipment for the movement of material by hoisting, in employments covered by this part. The types of slings covered are those made from alloy steel chain, wire rope, metal mesh, natural or synthetic fiber rope (conventional three strand construction), and synthetic web (nylon, polyester, and polypropylene).

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.

An eye splice made in any wire rope shall have not less than three full tucks. 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 otherwise prohibited.

Except for eye splices in the ends of wires and for endless rope slings, each wire rope used in hoisting or lowering, or in pulling loads, shall consist of one continuous piece without knot or splice.

Wire rope shall not be used 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.

Cable laid and 6 × 19 and 6 × 37 slings shall have a minimum clear length of wire rope 10 times the component rope diameter between splices, sleeves or end fittings.

Safe operating temperatures. Fiber core wire rope slings of all grades shall be permanently removed from service if they are exposed to temperatures in excess of 200 °F (93.33 °C). When nonfiber core wire rope slings of any grade are used at temperatures above 400 °F (204.44 °C) or below minus 60 °F (15.55 °C), recommendations of the sling manufacturer regarding use at that temperature shall be followed.

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.

In manila rope, eye splices shall contain at least three full tucks, and short splices shall contain at least six full tucks (three on each side of the centerline of the splice).

In layed synthetic fiber rope, eye splices shall contain at least four full tucks, and short splices shall contain at least eight full tucks (four on each side of the centerline of the splice).

Strand end tails shall not be trimmed short (flush with the surface of the rope) immediately adjacent to the full tucks. This precaution applies to both eye and short splices and all types of fiber rope. For fiber ropes under 1-inch diameter, the tails shall project at least six rope diameters beyond the last full tuck. For fiber ropes 1-inch diameter and larger, the tails shall project at least 6 inches beyond the last full tuck. In applications where the projecting tails may be objectionable, the tails shall be tapered and spliced into the body of the rope using at least two additional tucks (which will require a tail length of approximately six rope diameters beyond the last full tuck).

Safe operating temperatures. Natural and synthetic fiber rope slings, except for wet frozen slings, may be used in a temperature range from minus 20 °F (-28.88 °C) to plus 180 °F (82.2 °C) without decreasing the working load limit. For operations outside this temperature range and for wet frozen slings, the sling manufacturer"s recommendations shall be followed.

Splicing. Spliced fiber rope slings shall not be used unless they have been spliced in accordance with the following minimum requirements and in accordance with any additional recommendations of the manufacturer:

In manila rope, eye splices shall consist of at least three full tucks, and short splices shall consist of at least six full tucks, three on each side of the splice center line.

In synthetic fiber rope, eye splices shall consist of at least four full tucks, and short splices shall consist of at least eight full tucks, four on each side of the center line.

Strand end tails shall not be trimmed flush with the surface of the rope immediately adjacent to the full tucks. This applies to all types of fiber rope and both eye and short splices. For fiber rope under 1 inch (2.54 cm) in diameter, the tail shall project at least six rope diameters beyond the last full tuck. For fiber rope 1 inch (2.54 cm) in diameter and larger, the tail shall project at least 6 inches (15.24 cm) beyond the last full tuck. Where a projecting tail interferes with the use of the sling, the tail shall be tapered and spliced into the body of the rope using at least two additional tucks (which will require a tail length of approximately six rope diameters beyond the last full tuck).

Removal from service. Natural and synthetic fiber rope slings shall be immediately removed from service if any of the following conditions are present:

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.

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.

Wire rope is often used in slings because of its strength, durability, abrasion resistance and ability to conform to the shape of the loads on which it is used. In addition, wire rope slings are able to lift hot materials.

Wire rope used in slings can be made of ropes with either Independent Wire Rope Core (IWRC) or a fiber-core. It should be noted that a sling manufactured with a fiber-core is usually more flexible but is less resistant to environmental damage. Conversely, a core that is made of a wire rope strand tends to have greater strength and is more resistant to heat damage.

Wire rope may be manufactured using different rope lays. The lay of a wire rope describes the direction the wires and strands are twisted during the construction of the rope. Most wire rope is right lay, regular lay. This type of rope has the widest range of applications. Wire rope slings may be made of other wire rope lays at the recommendation of the sling manufacturer or a qualified person.

Wire rope slings are made from various grades of wire rope, but the most common grades in use are Extra Improved Plow Steel (EIPS) and Extra Extra Improved Plow Steel (EEIPS). These wire ropes are manufactured and tested in accordance with ASTM guidelines. If other grades of wire rope are used, use them in accordance with the manufacturer"s recommendations and guidance.

When selecting a wire rope sling to give the best service, consider four characteristics: strength, ability to bend without distortion, ability to withstand abrasive wear, and ability to withstand abuse.

Rated loads (capacities) for single-leg vertical, choker, basket hitches, and two-, three-, and four-leg bridle slings for specific grades of wire rope slings are as shown in Tables 7 through 15.

Ensure that slings made of rope with 6×19 and 6x37 classifications and cable slings have a minimum clear length of rope 10 times the component rope diameter between splices, sleeves, or end fittings unless approved by a qualified person,

Ensure that braided slings have a minimum clear length of rope 40 times the component rope diameter between the loops or end fittings unless approved by a qualified person,

Do not use wire rope clips to fabricate wire rope slings, except where the application precludes the use of prefabricated slings and where the sling is designed for the specific application by a qualified person,

Although OSHA"s sling standard does not require you to make and maintain records of inspections, the ASME standard contains provisions on inspection records.[3]

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/d ratios (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

Before initial use, ensure that all new swaged-socket, poured-socket, turnback-eye, mechanical joint grommets, and endless wire rope slings are proof tested by the sling manufacturer or a qualified person.

Permanently remove from service fiber-core wire rope slings of any grade if they are exposed to temperatures in excess of 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).

Follow the recommendations of the sling manufacturer when you use metallic-core wire rope slings of any grade at temperatures above 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) or below minus 40 degrees F (minus 40 degrees C).

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.

When U-bolt wire rope clips are used to form eyes, employers must use Table G–1 in § 1915.118 to determine the number and spacing of clips. Employers must apply the U-bolt so that the "U" section is in contact with the dead end of the rope.

All repairs to chains shall be made under qualified supervision. Links or portions of the chain found to be defective as described in paragraph (c)(4) of this section shall be replaced by links having proper dimensions and made of material similar to that of the chain. Before repaired chains are returned to service, they shall be proof tested to the proof test load recommended by the manufacturer.

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.

This is in response to your January 26 letter requesting a waiver from an America National Standard Institute (ANSI) requirement addressing the use of wire rope clips in conjunction with wedge sockets. I apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry.

The ANSI standard in question, ANSI A10.5c-1992, has not been formally adopted by OSHA, and therefore the ANSI provisions are not OSHA requirements to which the "waiver" (or "variance") procedures of the OSH Act would apply. OSHA does, however, frequently make reference to ANSI standards as evidentiary support for citations under the Act"s general duty clause. Your question, then, is really whether OSHA would cite an employer under the general duty clause for using a wire rope clip in a manner contrary to ANSI A10.5c-1992.

If an ANSI standard has not been adopted as an OSHA requirement, OSHA can independently evaluate whether noncompliance with an ANSI provision in a particular circumstance would also constitute a violation of the general duty clause. With regard to the use of a wire rope clip with a wedge socket, please be advised that in applications involving vibration, such as pile driving and clam shell operations, we would agree a wire rope clip may be used to clip the dead end of the rope to the live end to prevent the socket from working loose and the rope from jumping out of the groove of the wedge. The clip should be hand tightened with a wrench and not torqued to normal clip termination values. OSHA recommends, however, that a clip specifically designed for use with wedge sockets be used in this application.

For wedge socket applications not involving vibration, the policy is to use a wedge socket clip or to place a wire rope clip around the dead end of the line by clamping a short piece of rope, of the same diameter, to the tail.

These problems can be documented in our crane logs starting 23 May 1990. We are also using a 10 painted lead at the end of the controlled load lowering line as a guide for the operator to prevent two-blocking. While this is not as sophisticated as the anti-two block system, it is far more practical and successful on barge mounted equipment. When used in conjunction with all other OSHA requirements (i.e. prelift conference, test lift, etc.) we feel this to be a completely safe alternative, because of the very controlled nature of the lift.

Enclosed is a copy of a letter being forwarded for response. In the letter, an employer is requesting permission to use a wire rope clip to attach the "dead end rope tail" to the "live part" of a wire rope used with a wedge socket. This practice is prohibited by OSHA"s standards. The basis for the request is an article (copy enclosed) in the "Rigger"s Corner" section of the April/May 1993 issue of Lift Equipment. The article indicates it is advisable to clip the dead end of the rope to the live end since it prevents the wedge socket from working loose. The determination made relative to this issue will have national impact.

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.

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.

One topic that’s sure to spark a lively discussion among those who work in the lifting or material handling industries is, “Are import rigging products just as good as domestic products?” There’s a certain stigma attached to rigging products like hooks, wire rope, chain slings, and synthetic roundslings that are brought in to the U.S. from overseas.

25 or 30 years ago, if you asked an industry veteran if they trusted import products on the job site, the answer was clearly, “No.” Import products were viewed as inferior across the board—from shackles, sling hooks, wire rope, blocks, and wire rope clips. When import rigging products started hitting the market, there were horror stories of failed hooks, broken cables and slings, mislabeled and unmarked shackles—resulting in injuries to workers and expensive damage to equipment and materials.

Ultimately, the decision to choose a domestic or an imported wire rope, shackle, hook, sling or any other type of rigging product will come down to what best suits your company’s needs. There are obviously advantages and disadvantages to choosing either.

One thing to consider prior to purchasing an imported rigging product is to make sure that it meets federal specifications. For instance, if you’re considering using an imported wire rope, request a “certificate of conformance” from the distributor—this will at least give you documentation that the rope meets the RR-W-410 federal specifications required for domestic-made wire rope. It can also make certain that import rigging hardware items have the proper markings in accordance with federal standards.

Sometimes called a u-bolt,u-bolt clip or cable clip, they can be used to join two wire rope ends together, make an eye for a pulling application, or to secure the loose end of a wire rope after a wedge socket (or other appropriate device) has been used to terminate a crane’s hook.

ASME B30.9 states that wire rope clips shall not be used to fabricate wire rope slings, except where the application of slings prevents the use of prefabricated slings.

ASME B30.9 states wire rope clips shall be drop-forged steel of single saddle (u-bolt) or double saddle clip. Malleable cast iron clips shall not be used.

Wire rope clips diminish the working load limit of the wire rope to generally about 70-75% of its original strength. There are better and more efficient ways to fabricate slings for overhead lifting.

For situations where use of wire rope clips are approved, it’s important to remember the proper way to install the clips. Incorrect installation can reduce the working load limit by 40% or more. The easiest thing is to remember, “never saddle a dead horse.”

To comply with manufacturer’s specification the correct number of clips must be installed correctly andtightened to the correct torque using a torque wrench. The correct installation technique is shown below.

The bridge of the wire rope clip should always be placed on the load bearing part of the rope. The U-bolt ofthe clip should be placed on the rope tail, also known as the “dead end” of the rope.

The first clip must be placed one bridge width from the turned back rope tail or dead end of the rope,according to figure 1. Tighten nuts to the specified torque.

The second clip must be placed immediately against the thimble but nevertheless in such a position that thecorrect tightening of the clip does not damage the outer wires of the wire rope (figure 2). Tighten the nutsfirmly but not yet to the specified torque.

During assembly and before the rope is taken into service, the nutsmust be tightenedonce again to theprescribed torque. After the load is applied for the first time, the torque value must be checked again andcorrected if necessary. Periodically re-tightening of the nuts must be done at 10.000 cycles (heavy usage),20.000 e.g. every 3 months, 6 months, annually.

In addition, for clips to work properly and gain their design efficiency, the proper number of clips is required and the nuts must be torqued as prescribed by the manufacturer. For more information on proper installation, check out this video from the Crosby Group.

If you have more questions on wire rope clips, comment below. Remember that Safety through Education is more than just our motto, it is our guiding principle. If you need training on proper application on any other rigging hardware, reach out to us. We are here for you.

OSHA standards often dictate that some rigging equipment needs to be made in the United States or Canada. These regulations are particularly stringent for shackles.