


The Importance of Sling Protection
Sling protection products are designed to aid in the protection of lifting slings during a lifting application. One of the most common cause of failure of slings, both during use and during inspection is cutting and damage from abrasive or jagged surfaces. Sling protection can help reduce this problem by acting as a buffer between the sling and the load. When used with steel slings, they can help protect both the sling and the load from damage. There are two main applications with regards to sling rotection, abrasion protection and cut protection. Wear pads such as Cordura or ballistic nylon are often used in the eye of the sling or any part of the sling that may come in contact with the load. Cut protection and corner protection such the as the LiftGuard sling protectors and Spanset Secutex sleeves should be used whenever the sling is going around a narrow radius or “sharp” edges or corners.
Definition: “Sharp” Edge
In addition to external factors, such as temperature or mechanical stress, “sharp edges” still represent one of the main causes of damage to the lifting gearitself and are therefore a frequent cause of accidents. The most damages on sharp or rough edges occur by moving the load transversely to the lifting gear. If the edge is “sharp”, it can, in the worst case, cut through the lifting gear. If the load moves to the side, a cutting motion occurs at the edge. Being comparable with the blade of a knife, the edge can cut through unprotected lifting gear. A sharp edge already exists if the edge radius “r” is smaller than the thickness of the material “d” of the lifting gear. If the edge radius is under 2 mm, experts already consider this a “razor-sharp edge”. The definition of “sharp edges” was originally devised for wire rope attachments, but was not adapted to the development of round slings. This problem was examined by SpanSet® in cooperation with the trade association and DEKRA in an extensive series of tests.
THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF A SHARP EDGE:
Wear Pad Materials


Cordura®
Cordura® is a high strength, cut resistant nylon fabric that is great for adding abrasion resistance to synthetic slings, tie down straps and other types of webbing.

Ballistic Nylon
Ballistic Nylon is a thin, 2-ply wear resistant fabric made of bulked nylon fiber, appropriate for wider sleeves, bundling applications and abrasive surfaces.

Secutex Protective Sleeves for Lifting
Flexible protection sleeve, protective sleeves. The protective sleeve catches the edge of the load while the lifting strap moves freely through the protective sleeve. The load and lifting strap are protected.
Benefits
- Extremely cut-resistant
- Extremely wear- and abrasion-resistant
- Careful handling of the load
- Exceptional handling through low dead weight
- Meets the highest standards of work safety

Liftguard Magnetic Sling Protectors
Liftguard Sling protectors attach with strong magnets to the steel corner and keep the sling from contacting the load. Made of solid nylon, these Magnetic Sling Protectors are only 1/7th the weight of steel, no tools are needed since magnets allow for quick and easy attachment and removal.
“Slings in contact with edges, corners, or protrusions should be protected with a material of sufficient strength, thickness, and construction to prevent damage to the sling”
(ANSI/ASME B30.9-1.10.4)