The maximum load that a sling can safely lift is called its what?

• A. Bend Ratio
• B. Sling Angle
• C. Rated Load
• D. Load Triangle

Answer: (C)

The maximum load a sling can safely lift is its rated load. This is the amount the sling is designed to carry safely under standard conditions, and it’s the figure manufacturers provide on the sling’s tag as the working load limit. The rated load reflects the sling’s material, construction, and fittings, plus the intended use and safety factors.

In practice, you must not exceed this rating, and you may need to derate it for real-world factors such as sling angle, the number of legs in a rig (how many strands share the load), dynamic or shock loads, and any wear or damage. So the rated load is the standard reference for safe lifting.

Other terms relate to different aspects of rigging but do not define the maximum safe load. Bend ratio deals with how tightly rope bends around a sheave and affects rope life; sling angle describes how the legs of the sling are oriented and can change the effective capacity; the load triangle isn’t the term used to denote the maximum safe load.