Textile Slings: Operation & Maintenance
Professional Instruction Manual for EN 1492-1 & EN 1492-2
EN 1492-1 (Webbing) EN 1492-2 (Round) Safety & Compliance
This manual applies to textile lifting slings made from man-made fibres for general-purpose lifting of inert loads. It covers flat woven webbing slings (EN 1492-1) and round slings (EN 1492-2) manufactured from polyamide (PA), polyester (PES), or polypropylene (PP). Note: This excludes the lifting of persons and special applications such as molten metal, strong acids, or nuclear materials.
1. Identification, Marking & Color Coding
Each sling shall be fitted with a durable, legible label or tag showing critical manufacturing and safety data. If the label is missing, illegible, or damaged, the sling shall be immediately withdrawn from service.
| WLL (Straight Lift) |
Standard Color Code |
Required Label Information |
| 1 Tonne |
Violet
|
- Manufacturer/Supplier: Name and traceability code/serial number.
- Standard Ref: EN 1492-1 or EN 1492-2.
- Material: PA, PES, or PP.
- Length: Effective Working Length (EWL).
- Capacity: Working Load Limit (WLL) for straight lift.
- Mode Factors: Pictograms/text for permitted lifting modes (choke, basket, multi-leg).
|
| 2 Tonne |
Green
|
| 3 Tonne |
Yellow
|
| 4 Tonne |
Grey
|
| 5 Tonne |
Red
|
| 6 Tonne |
Brown
|
| 8 Tonne |
Blue
|
| 10+ Tonne |
Orange
|
2. Selection & Conditions of Use
🎯 Sling Selection Guidelines
- Capacity Check: Choose a sling with a WLL equal to or greater than the maximum load, taking into account the lifting mode, angles, and dynamic effects to prevent overloading.
- Load Geometry: Consider attachment points, sharp edges, and required reach to select the appropriate flat webbing or round sling format.
- Temperature Resilience: Verify material compatibility. Polyester (PES) and Polyamide (PA) are suitable between approx. -40°C and +100°C. Polypropylene (PP) is restricted to -40°C to +80°C.
- Chemical Resistance: Avoid materials not resistant to specific chemicals. For example, polyester round slings are strictly prohibited in alkaline environments (bases).
⚠️ General Conditions of Use
- Edge Protection: Protect slings from sharp edges or rough surfaces with suitable corner protectors, polyurethane sleeves, or softeners. Never place slings directly over sharp edges.
- Prohibited Actions: Do not knot slings, twist them, or pass them through one another in ways not explicitly intended by the manufacturer.
- Load Handling: Avoid shock loading, jerking, or dragging the sling/load across the floor. Always lift and lower loads smoothly and under controlled tension.
- Hazardous Zones: Do not use outside permitted temperature ranges or in environments with harsh chemicals, intense UV, or welding sparks without approved protection.
3. Specific Safe Use Protocols
🎗️ Flat Webbing Slings (EN 1492-1)
Consists of one or more layers of flat webbing with sewn eyes or an endless configuration.
- Seating: Check that the sling is correctly seated in hooks and accessories, with the load-bearing surfaces fully supported and not folded/bent around small radii or hardware.
- Choked Lifts: Position the choke so it is secure but does not create severe pinching or damage to the webbing edge. Never force the choke down by shock loading.
- Symmetrical Loading: In basket and multi-leg configurations, ensure symmetrical loading and strictly observe the reduction in WLL at higher sling angles.
- Hardware Integrity: Do not use if reinforcing eyes, protective sleeves, or attached metal fittings are damaged, displaced, or missing.
⭕ Round Slings (EN 1492-2)
Consists of a continuous loop of high-tenacity yarn (core) enclosed in a woven sleeve.
- Uniform Distribution: Arrange the round sling so the load is uniformly distributed over its length. Avoid point-loading on a very small contact area.
- Multiple Attachments: For multiple attachment points, use round slings of the exact same type and length so the load is shared evenly.
- Multi-Leg Arrangements: Do not allow round slings to slip together or cross over each other; use master links and spacers where necessary.
- Prohibited Actions: Round slings must never be knotted. Never pull a round sling from under a load when it is still bearing weight or pinned to the ground.
4. Inspection & Maintenance
🔍 Routine & Periodic Inspection
- User Inspection: Before and after each use, visually inspect for cuts, tears, abrasions, broken/pulled yarns, damaged stitching, or wear at the eyes. Check for heat damage (glossy/melted areas) and chemical attack (bleaching/swelling).
- Periodic Examination: Must be thoroughly examined by a Competent Person at least once per year (more frequently in severe/harsh conditions). Results must be recorded.
📦 Storage & Documentation
- Store clean, dry, and protected from direct sunlight, UV, extreme temperatures, chemicals, and mechanical damage.
- Keep in a dedicated rack or cabinet, off the floor.
- Rinse immediately with water if contaminated with chemicals (e.g., alkalis on polyester) and have a competent person inspect before re-use.
🚨 Mandatory Discard Criteria
A sling shall be permanently withdrawn from service and physically destroyed to prevent re-use if:
- The identification label is missing or illegible.
- There are cuts, holes, or significant wear to load-bearing fibres.
- The internal load-bearing core of a round sling is visible through the protective sleeve.
- There is heat damage, chemical attack, or any indication of severe overload/shock load (e.g., severe deformation or elongation).
- Any attached metal fitting shows cracks, deformation, excessive corrosion, or weld defects.
