Slings are widely used by businesses every single day. It’s important to find a sling that works well for a specific project. Choosing the wrong type of sling could halt construction. In addition, having the wrong kind of sling could mean jeopardizing the safety of your workers. It’s imperative that slings are inspected every year for normal use and either monthly or quarterly in cases of severe use. It’s imperative to know about the various types of slings that are available. Here is more information about the four most common types of slings.

• Web Slings
  
  A web sling is often made from either polyester or nylon. Web slings are notable for their strength and effective load protection. Many web slings are made from synthetic materials. You’ll typically have a few choices to choose from when selecting a synthetic sling. Many prefer utilizing web slings due to how lightweight these slings are. Synthetic web slings are commonly used with fragile equipment. If you’re looking to reduce damage while moving items, it’s best to choose synthetic web slings. You can test the integrity of fiber web slings with your fingernail. If you can scratch a web sling with your fingernail and see material separate, it’s time to replace the sling.
• Round Slings
  
  A round sling is used to connect a weighted load to equipment. You’ll commonly find that round slings are made from woven yarn. Round slings need to be able to perform in conditions where high amounts of strength are required. It’s common for round slings to be lightweight but they will weigh more than a typical web sling.
• Industrial Chain Slings
  
  Businesses that work with extreme temperatures will benefit from using chain slings. An industrial chain sling is made to handle temperatures in excess of 600 degrees Fahrenheit. In many cases, dirt and residue can hide damage to a chain sling. It’s imperative that, due to the conditions these chains perform in, these slings are thoroughly inspected before use. Chain slings are often prone to suffering dings and scrapes from regular usage. If you’re worried other slings won’t hold up to hot temperatures, it’s best to choose chain slings.
• Wire Rope Slings
  
  A wire rope sling is actually the combination of many wires woven together. Certain wire rope slings are made with a fiber core. This core works to make wire rope slings flexible at the cost of slightly less damage protection. A sling without the fiber core will provide more strength while being slightly less flexible. Wire rope measurements are done by multiplying numbers of strands times the number of wires. It’s important that a wire rope sling is able to pass a fatigue inspection. A fatigued wire rope often has many small cracks that hinder the protection of the sling.

In closing, there are several commonly used sling types in the construction industry. Slings are either made in an endless, single, two, three, or four leg type. Web slings provide a lightweight and protective sling that is used in many aspects of construction. Round slings are used to connect a weight load to equipment. Chain slings are used where extreme temperatures are the norm. A wire rope sling combines strands of wire together to provide both strength and flexibility. Padding and blocking will help ensure your sling has a long lasting lifetime while providing ample protection. Slings are used every day in the world of construction to keep workers and equipment safe.