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coefficient of utilisation (Zp) used in this

standard for slings with a diameter greater
than 60 mm is lower than that normally used
for general service wire rope slings. This is
justified for the following reasons.
a) Slings over 60 mm diameter are not
intended for general service, and are
subjected to special conditions relating to

Safe use
design, construction, frequency of use,
service and discard.
b) The mass of the load is generally
calculated or measured with considerable
accuracy, and as such slings are usually
specially manufactured for one or a
limited number of special lifts.
c) The lifting operation is controlled and
supervised.
d) The dynamic factors (such as shock
loading) are limited.
These factors reduce the unknown aspects
which dictate that slings in general service
require a higher co-efficient of utilisation.
Lower co-efficients have been, and are, used

of lifting slings and grommets

with confidence.

Zp: the co-efficient of utilisation

I
For cable-laid sling diameters less than
60 mm, Zp shall be five. For cable-laid sling
diameters (d) 60 mm up to 150 mm, Zp shall
Richard Krabbendam discusses the guidelines to follow and be in accordance with the following equation
explains the calculations you should make. Zp = 6.33 - 0.022d. For cable-laid sling
diameters greater than 150 mm, Zp shall be
n recent months I have attended the related articles, and I am continuing this series not less than three.
WC&TS (World Crane & Transport with this article on the safe use of lifting slings Be aware that this guideline has no
Summit) in Amsterdam, the and grommets. limitations regarding D/d ratio. In this
International Marine Contractors There are quite a few standards and context, common sense is the best guideline
Association (IMCA) annual Conference guidelines available, such as the ANSI/ASME to extending the service life of your (very
in Rio de Janeiro, and the Heavy Lifting B30-9 (1996 USA) and the EN 13414-3 (2003 expensive) rigging materials, about which the
Conference for the Power Sector in Frankfurt. Europe), as well as guidelines issued by IMCA UK HSE published a Guidance Note known
In all these conferences, safety was of prime (IMCA M179), and others. as PM 20 (Plant & Machinery Guideline 20).
concern, and so should it be. All the papers This document has been compiled by IMCA
presented addressed, in one way or another, the Rules and regulations into guideline M179, which clearly defines
topic of safe working practices. how cable laid slings and grommets are to be
During my workshop, Setting the According to ANSI, a design safety factor of at used, especially for the larger rope diameters.
Standard for Safety in Heavy Lift Shipping, at least five shall be maintained for the common As loads to be lifted are becoming heavier
the Frankfurt conference, I noticed that safety sizes of running wire in light load use. Wire and larger, so are sling and grommet rope
is not yet part of the daily culture in many ropes with a safety factor of less than five may diameters, and they often exceed 100 mm or
companies. Safety is not something you can be used only: more. These large diameter slings and
buy in a store and implement in your (a) For specialised equipment such as, but not grommets should generally be used as specified,
company overnight. It is a lot more. It limited to, cranes designed to be used with but should you do it differently, apply the
requires first of all the support of management lesser wire rope safety factors. correct safety and de-rating factors. There are
and the necessary investment in training and (b)In accordance with design factors in different methods in which slings can be used.
education of staff, as well as a culture change standing rigging applications; Various methods of using slings are shown in
that does take time. At Jumbo this process was (c) For heavy lifts or other purposes, for which Figs.1-5 (above). The safe lifting capacity greatly
started more then four years ago by a safety factor of five is impracticable, and depends on the D/d ratio of pin and rope
introducing the STAY WELL programme. for which the employer can demonstrate diameter. This should be at least two or more.
During the past year, I have shared some of that equivalent safety is ensured. All safety factors mentioned in the
my experience and know-how in safety The EN 13414-3 (2003) states: the guidelines are minimum requirements, which

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SPOTCHECKSAFETY

are seven (Machine Directive 2006/42/EG),

while a safety factor of five is applicable in the
USA (B30-9).
Lifting beams and spreaders of 10-160
must be complied with. Larger safety factors than 2.25, which is the absolute minimum, tonnes WLL have to be tested before use, with
are OK, but not smaller. As an example, when where it should be borne in mind that the D/d a proof load required of 10-100 percent extra,
the SWL of a grommet as shown is 100 ratio in most cases is a design factor demand depending on the WLL.
tonnes, the maximum lifting capacity in Figs. that will out-number the SF required. It is This is defined by the following formula:
6-9 are: Fig. 6 = 200 tonnes, Fig. 7 = 100 obvious that the sling or grommet lift capacity Ltest = 1.04 x WLL + 9.6. Spreaders below
tonnes, Fig. 8 = < 100 tonnes, depending on should be de-rated depending on the bending 10 tonnes WLL require a proof load of
angle and D/d, and Fig. 9 = < 200 tonnes, applied. 200 percent. Above 160 tonnes, a proof load of
depending on the D/d. The larger the D/d ratio, the better it is for 110 percent is required. The WLL of lifting
The safety factors of slings and grommets the service life of the sling or grommet, and appliances is sometimes referred to as the safe
are all in relation to the minimum break load de-rating will be avoided. See Fig.10. working load (SWL). One may only use a
(MBL). The minimum break load is the Bear in mind that the safety factor is just a lifting sling or grommet when:
calculated break load of a wire rope. The MBL number, which gives the user some comfort ● There is a valid certificate
should always be lower then the actual break about making mistakes, or misuse, without ● It is still in good working condition (there
load obtained from a destructive test on a wire direct disastrous effects. are no multiple broken wires)
rope sample. As explained, this is not always In the Lloyd’s Register Code for Lifting ● There is no excessive corrosion
possible for large diameter ropes. In that case, Appliances in a Marine Environment ● There is no damage to the end connection
the IMCA M179 clearly describes methods of (CLAME), the safety factor for steel wire ● The end of the cable is not visible at the
working out the calculated cable laid breaking ropes changes, depending on the WLL, as per end connection
load (CRBL) and the calculated sling breaking as per Fig.11. ● When the load is known and does not
load (CSBL). At Jumbo Safety, even more stringent exceed the WLL of the sling or grommet

HLPFI
The working load limit (WLL) or rating is grommet and sling factors are applied. This ● The rope is not deformed or kinked.
the maximum mass that the sling is designed rule came from the Dutch Dock Labour
to raise, lower or suspend, and is achieved by Inspection, and is still in use today. See Fig. 12.
CSBL
WWL = /f, in which f is the safety factor It defines a safety factor of five for a WLL of Please note, this article is intended for guidance only.
that allows for the circumstances of use. up to 25 tonnes. This safety factor Sf decreases Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the
Depending on the WLL, the safety factor linearly to 3.33 at 180 tonnes, according to the accuracy of the contents, no responsibility will be
can vary from five (for slings and grommets formula Sf = 5.2688 – 0.01075 x WLL. accepted by the publishers for any errors. Further
up to 25 tonnes), and decreases to not less Safety factors for synthetic slings in Europe professional advice should be taken before making any
decisions about the use of slings, grommets and
shackles

Richard Krabbendam is a heavy lift specialist with

Jumbo Offshore and founder of Krabbendam Advies Service.
A Master of Mechanical Engineering from Delft University
of Technology, he has worked with BigLift and Mammoet,
and was a co-founder of ITREC. He helped to set up Jumbo
Offshore and was involved in the development of its super
heavy lift carrier fleet, the J-Class, which uses two 900
tonne mast cranes for subsea installation works, and since
August 2009 has been equipped with a newly installed
deepwater lowering system enabling Jumbo to transport
and install heavy loads in up to 3,000 m water depth.

www.jumbo-offshore.com www.heavyliftspecialist.com

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