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PROVEN

SAFE WORK PROCEDURE

SWP-010

SLING SELECTION

The hitch chooses the sling. The leftover in the truck does not.

DOCUMENT
GOSPEL-SWP-010
REVISION
01 CURRENT
EFFECTIVE
2026-09-01
OWNER
GOSPEL Safety
APPROVED BY
GOSPEL
REVIEW
2027-09-01

PURPOSE

Pick a sling that can take the tension at this angle, in this hitch, on this edge, in this environment.

SCOPE

Wire rope, chain and synthetic slings used by riggers.

This document is the method — the steps. Hazards, consequence and residual risk for the same work are in the JHA library. A procedure is not a hazard analysis. A hazard analysis is not a procedure.

PROCEDURE

  1. 01

    LOAD

    Weight and COG. If unknown, stop.

  2. 02

    HITCH

    Vertical, choker or basket. Capacity changes. Do not mix them in your head.

  3. 03

    ANGLE

    θ from the horizontal. Tension = share / sin θ for a two-leg bridle. Below 30° is not a hitch this program allows unless an engineer owns it.

  4. 04

    ENVIRONMENT

    Heat, chemicals, sharp edges, basket in a choke — pick the material that survives that, or change the method.

  5. 05

    CHECK WLL

    After hitch and angle, the sling still has capacity. If it does not, change the sling or the hitch — do not hope.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This program

The published method for the work. Stop-work is named in it. It does not own the site.

Supervisor

Confirms the plan, the crew, the zone and the stop criteria. Owns whether the hook moves.

Crane operator

Runs only the machine they are competent on, to the chart, after inspection. Stops on an unclear signal or a broken plan.

Rigger

Selects, inspects and applies the hitch. Does not guess weight, centre of gravity or angle.

Signalperson

One set of hands on the crane. Holds the zone. STOP means stop.

Worker

Works to this program and to site rules — whichever is stricter. Uses the three rights. Reports damaged gear.

REQUIRED COMPETENCY

  • Can calculate tension for the hitch
  • Knows WLL, angle and environmental limits

EQUIPMENT

  • Identified slings
  • WLL tags
  • Softeners

PPE

  • Hard hat
  • CSA-grade footwear
  • High-visibility clothing
  • Eye protection
  • Task-rated gloves
  • Hearing protection where required
  • Fall protection where the work exposes a fall

PROHIBITED PRACTICES

  • Selecting by colour or habit
  • Knots in slings
  • Synthetics on hot work they are not rated for

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Stop the lift. Make people safe. Land or hold the load if it can be done without a second incident. First aid. Notify the site and the employer. Hold the scene.

DOCUMENTATION

  • FLHA
  • Pre-use / inspection record
  • This SWP number and revision

REFERENCES

  • Workers Compensation Act s. 21 — known or reasonably foreseeable hazards; instruction and supervision
  • OHS Regulation (B.C. Reg. 296/97, in force 15 Apr 1998) Part 3 — OHS program, instruction, inspections
  • OHS Regulation Part 4 s. 4.13 — risk assessment where rescue or evacuation may arise
  • OHS Regulation Part 8 — PPE; headwear CSA Z94.1-05 or Z94.1-15
  • OHS Regulation Part 11 — fall protection
  • OHS Regulation Part 14 — Cranes and Hoists
  • 14.2(5) — CSA Z150-1998, or ASME B30.5-2004, or ASME B30.22-2005 (articulating boom)
  • 14.2(6) — CSA Z248-2004 for tower, hammerhead and self-erecting tower cranes
  • 14.35 pre-use inspection · 14.36 load weight · 14.42.1 critical lift · 14.44 loads over work areas · 14.45 unattended loads · 14.47–14.49 signals
  • OHS Regulation Part 15 — Rigging
  • Manufacturer load chart, manual and configuration limits
  • Site lift plan, FLHA and site rules where stricter

PROVENsin(). Current version on this site.