WEBBING SLING OR LIFTING BELT SELECTION, IDENTIFICATION AND INSPECTION

INTRODUCTION
In our day-to-day life, we will come across a number of material handling items, from a small twine to
huge cranes. In our construction sites we use material handling items like webbing sling (or Lifting belt),
D-shackle, wire rope sling, manila rope, turn buckles etc. How much we are familiar with such common
material handling items?
It is sure that, before any lifting, the common question will arise in our mind Will the item used for
lifting is sufficient for handling the load? Usually lifting happens as a lucky trial. Mostly it becomes
successful, but the failure causes loss/injury to human life and damage to lifted items.
SWL and WLL
There are two terms we usually come across when dealing with lifting items. They are Safe Working
Load (SWL) and Working Load Limit (WLL).
SWL sometimes stated as the Normal Working Load (NWL) is the load that a piece of lifting equipment,
lifting device or accessory can safely lift, suspend, or lower without fear of breaking.
U.S. Engineering Standards, as well as European and ISO Standards no longer use the term Safe Working
Load or SWL, officially. They are using the term Working Load Limit (WLL). A simple definition of
Working Load Limit is the maximum load that includes mass or force, that should ever be applied to load
carrying equipment in a specified configuration or application. The load carrying equipment
manufacturer calculates the WLL of their product. So Working Load Limit (WLL), is the maximum
working load designed by the manufacturer. Working load limits are calculated on straight line pulls
only. Never side load. Other conditions such as extreme temperatures, chemicals solutions or spills,
vapors, or immersion in salt water can reduce the Working Load Limit.
WEBBING SLING or LIFTING BELT
Webbing sling or Lifting belt is a common material handing item used in the industry. Lifting belt is made
from polyester or fabric material.
SELECTION
Lifting belt is selected based on the load to be lifted. Length for the lift can be adjusted using multiple
belts. Belt contact area should not contain sharp edges.
IDENTIFICATION
The belts can be identified based on the colour as given in the table below. The load lifting capacity of
different method of lifting arrangement of the belts can also be found from the table.

3 stitches indicates 3T 5 stitches indicates 5T
WLL
Colour
Code
Width (mm)
Vertical
Straight Lift
Choked
Lift Basket
Basket
45
0

Basket
90
0




1 X 0.8 X 2 X 1.8 X 1.4
1T Violet 25/30/50 1 0.8 2 1.8 1.4
2T Green 56/60 2 1.6 4 3.6 2.8
3T Yellow 75/90 3 2.4 6 5.4 4.2
4T Grey 100/120 4 3.2 8 7.2 5.6
5T Red 125/150 5 4 10 9 7
6T Brown 150/180 6 4.8 12 10.8 8.4
8T Blue 200/240 8 6.4 16 14.4 11.2
10T Orange 250/300 10 8 20 18 14
12T Orange 300 12 9.6 24 21.6 16.8
15T Orange 300 15 12 30 27 21
16T Orange 300 16 12.8 32 28.8 22.4
18T Orange 300 18 14.4 36 32.4 25.2
20T Orange 300 20 16 40 36 28

The other easiest way of identifying the tonnage of the belt is by counting the black stitches along the
width of the belt.
Examples are given below







Other details are given in the label attached to the belt.



INSPECTION
Before using of the belt for any lifting purpose the following are to be inspected
1. Whether the correct belt is used?
a. Check the load to be lifted.
b. Check whether the belt is of correct tonnage.
2. Whether the belt is having any damage?
a. Check for any wear and tear.
b. Check the eye of the belt for any cut in the belt.
c. Check whether any damage to the stitching in the belt.
d. Belts wetted with water, oil etc should not be used.
3. Whether it is properly hooked with the material to be lifted?
a. Sharp edges in contact with the belt to be avoided.
b. Belt to be positioned considering the Center of gravity of the material to be lifted.