A chain sling can be very dangerous in the wrong hands.
By Bartelby F.
05/29/07
A chain sling is usually used in the rigging industry. Chain slings can have one or many components or chains depending on the weight it is going to bear. The OSHA web site has many regulations for this type of equipment because chain slings can also be very dangerous. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Association of Chain Manufacturers have a variety of standards for chain slings. Never attempt to use a chain sling without knowing exactly how much weight the chain sling can bear and how much your load weighs. All chain slings have what appears to be a dog tag affixed letting the operator know exactly how much weight it can bear. Chain slings must always be inspected before using and the person performing the inspection must be properly trained in this technique. The chain sling is the most durable of all sling types. This includes the wire rope sling and the nylon sling. On these slings its "reach" is measured by the distance between the farthest inner points of the master link and the furthest inside load bearing point.