Damaged synthetic web slings with protective outer yarns

March 29, 1982

I. Mike Gross, Manager
Safety/Fire Protection
Bell Helicopter Textron
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Gross:

This is in response to your letter of February 23, 1982, which provided additional information to support your original request of September 14, 1981 for a clarification of the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.184(i)(9)(iii) and (iv).

As you were informed in my letter of November 19, 1981, 29 CFR 1910.184(i)(9)(iii) and (iv) are enforced to ensure that synthetic web slings damaged so as to reduce their load carry capability, are immediately removed from service.

As your letter of February 23rd points out some synthetic web slings are designed with external jacket yarns which protect the internal load carrying yarns. Such slings may be continued in use with some of the outer yarns parted as long as such use is in accord with the manufacturer's recommendations.

If we may be of further assistance, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Patrick R. Tyson
Director,
Federal Compliance and State Programs

November 19, 1981

I. Mike Gross, Manager
Safety/Fire Protection
Bell Helicopter Textron
[Recipient address omitted]

Dear Mr. Gross,

This is in response to your letter of September 14, 1981, requesting a clarification of 29 CFR 1910.184(i)(9), synthetic web slings, "removal from service". Your letter addressed to the Fort Worth Area Office was forwarded to this office for reply.

29 CFR 1910.184(i)(9)(iii) and (iv) are enforced to ensure that damaged synthetic web slings are immediately removed form service. Slings with burned fibers, melting or charring of the sling surface, snags, punctures, tears or cuts, broken or worn stitches, or distortion of fittings, have experienced some degradation of their ability to handle a load. Since the extent of reduction of load carrying capability cannot be easily quantified, continued usage of a damaged sling can cause employee injury either by immediate failure or continued reduction of the ability of the sling to handle a load. However, synthetic web slings may possibly be repaired by a sling manufacturer or an equivalent entity and returned to service in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.184(i)(8)(ii).

For information, on August 30, 1973, OSHA published in the Federal Register a proposed standard for industrial slings. This agency received over 60 written comments concerning the proposed standard. Each of the comments was carefully reviewed and the proposed standard was modified, as warranted, and published in the Federal Register on June 27, 1975, as a final rule. Both the proposed and final standard for slings were based largely upon the requirements in the American National Standards Institute, (ANSI) B-30.9-1971.

If we may be of further assistance please call or write.

Sincerely,

Patrick R. Tyson
Acting Director, Federal Compliance
and State Programs