Every year, improper lifting practices lead to costly accidents and injuries in Australia’s construction and mining sectors. Choosing the right sling and following proper safety measures can significantly reduce risks and improve efficiency.
Construction and mining have numerous lifting operations for heavy loads and machinery.
However, most construction and mining companies are unaware of the safe practices for sling lifts in Perth and other parts of Australia.
Lack of awareness can lead to workplace accidents and equipment damage. So, it becomes essential for you to explore the best and safest sling practices.
This blog will tell you the best lifting sling practices for construction and mining in Australia.
Safe Lifting Practices for Construction and Mining
Here are some best practices that you should follow for flat-lifting slings.
Choose the Right Type of Sling as Per Your Needs
There are different types of lifting slings available. And choosing the right lifting sling in Perth is essential, as each type serves a specific purpose.
- Webbing and Round Slings: These types of slings are made from polyester fibre, which is great for handling delicate loads that need protection from surface damage.
- Wire Rope Slings: These slings are highly resilient and offer strong resistance to extreme temperatures and pressure, which makes them suitable for heavy-weight lifting in construction and mining operations.
- Metal Mesh Slings: Sharp-edge materials like plate steel can damage the sling during lifting. In such scenarios, metal mesh slings become helpful as they are made from a heavy-duty metallic element that resists damage by high temperatures and sharp materials.
So, different slings serve different purposes for lifting. Some are meant for heavy lifting, while some are meant for delicate materials.
You might now wonder how to choose the right sling. For this, firstly, you will need to examine the correct weight and shape of your load and check the environmental conditions like temperature and Working Load Limit (WLL) to select the appropriate sling type.
Inspect Your Slings Before Use for Safety Purposes
Whether it is heavy lifting or lightweight lifting, the damaged sling can create hazardous scenarios like the breakage of the sling. That’s why it will be a wise move to inspect your sling thoroughly before you start using it.
You should check if there are no cuts or corrosion on the slings. Moreover, you should also see that the slings are not bent. Even a small damage to the sling will affect your safety. That’s why you should always check for damage before use and replace them to prevent the possibility of hazardous situations.
Strictly Follow the Correct Load Limits and Lifting Angles
Every construction lifting string has a specific workload capacity. When you load the sling beyond its capacity, it damages its structural integrity, which eventually leads to sling failure. Many sling manufacturers and suppliers like Thornado mention the lifting capacity on each sling to ensure correct loading. That’s why you should always check the manufacturer specifications of every sling.
Besides, just like correct loading, lifting at the right angle is also essential. That’s why you should always try to lift the loaded sling at the right angle. For instance, lifting at a 90-degree angle ensures complete strength, while a 45-degree lifting angle reduces the workload limit by 30%, which becomes suitable for lightweight lifting.
Ensure Proper Storage of Slings
Most construction and mining industries do not store the slings properly. But do you know that improper storage of slings results in premature wear? That’s why it will be perfect to store the slings properly for the long run. Here’s how you can properly store slings.
- Always ensure clean and dry storage places to prevent rusting.
- Opt for racks to hang slings, preventing them from bending and tangling.
- Prevent your slings from direct exposure to sun, harmful chemicals, and high temperatures to prevent breakage.
Strictly Adhere to Australian Standards of Lifting Slings
Australia has certain standards set up for different sling types to ensure safe and secure lifting. For instance, AS 4497 is meant for synthetic slings, while AS 1666 is for wire rope slings.
So, whether you are using lifting slings in Adelaide or Melbourne, you should always check that your slings comply with Australian standards to maintain the safety of your construction or mining site.
Final Say
Lifting is the most common but critical operation in the construction and mining industry. And safe lifting is ensured only when you follow proper sling practices. By choosing the right kind of sling, checking for damage prior to use, following correct load limits and angles, storing them properly, and complying with Australian standards, you will always have safe lifting operations.
If you are looking for a trustworthy supplier of lifting slings in Melbourne or any other parts of Australia, Thornado is your reliable partner. Each of our slings complies with Australian standards and is rigorously tested to guarantee 100% safe lifting operations for your construction and mining.
Browse Thornado’s high-quality, Australian-standard lifting slings today to enhance safety and efficiency at your site.