OSHA Sling Inspection Requirements: Daily Checks, Who and Records

OSHA sling inspection requirements are shorter than most people expect. Many pages online list removal criteria, inspection classes and annual dates as if they all came from one federal paragraph. The core federal rule for general industry is one sentence about a daily check by a competent person. This guide sets out what that paragraph says, what employers usually add from the manufacturer and the commonly referenced standard, and how to record it.

This guide covers federal OSHA only. States that run their own State Plans approved by OSHA, such as California and Washington, can add requirements. It is general information, not legal advice.

What OSHA sling inspection requirements say

OSHA sling inspection requirements for general industry sit in 29 CFR 1910.184(d). Each day before being used, the sling and all fastenings and attachments are inspected for damage or defects by a competent person designated by the employer. Damaged or defective slings are removed from service.

Four parts of that sentence carry the weight:

• Each day before being used. The trigger is use. A sling that sits on the rack all week does not need a daily check that week, but it needs one before the first lift on the day it is used.
• The sling and all fastenings and attachments. Shackles, hooks, master links, eye bolts and other hardware on the sling are part of the check, not a separate job.
• For damage or defects. The paragraph does not list criteria. Those come from the manufacturer and the standards commonly referenced for slings.
• A competent person designated by the employer. Someone has to be named for the job.

Section 1910.184 covers slings used with cranes, hoists and other material handling in general industry, and it has further paragraphs by sling type. This guide relies only on paragraph (d), so read the current section for the rest. Construction work has its own rigging rules in Part 1926. On construction sites, 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2) also asks safety programs to provide for frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials and equipment by competent persons the employer designates.

OSHA sling inspection requirements: who is the competent person

OSHA sling inspection requirements give the job to a competent person designated by the employer. The employer decides who that is, and the decision is easier to show if it is written down: a name, the sling types they inspect, and the date they were designated.

In practice the competent person is someone who:

• knows the sling types in use and how each one fails;
• knows the manufacturer's removal criteria for those slings;
• can read the ID tag and tell whether the sling suits the lift; and
• has the authority to take a sling out of service on the spot.

Often that is the rigger or the crane operator. In a busy shop it can be several people, one per shift. What it should not be is "whoever grabs the sling". If the person using the sling is not the designated competent person, someone who is has to have checked it that day.

Behind every specific rule sits the OSH Act General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1): each employer furnishes a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. A dropped load from a failed sling is one of those hazards.

OSHA sling inspection requirements and "each day before use"

OSHA sling inspection requirements tie the check to the day of use, not to a calendar. The daily check happens before the first lift of the day with that sling, and the result is known before the sling goes on the hook.

Many employers run two levels of check, which works well with the daily rule:

1. Daily check before use by the competent person: a hands-on look along the full length of the sling, the eyes and the hardware, plus the ID tag. This is the check paragraph (d) asks for.
2. Periodic check of the whole inventory, often monthly or at a set interval, by the same or a more experienced person. This catches slings that hide at the back of the rack and confirms every item still has a legible tag. The interval is the employer's choice unless another paragraph or your State Plan sets one.

If a sling is used on a crane covered by 29 CFR 1910.179, the crane has its own frequent and periodic inspection classes. Keep the sling check separate from the crane check. See OSHA crane inspection requirements for the crane side.

What a sling inspection checks by sling type

OSHA sling inspection requirements do not list what to look for, so the manufacturer's instructions come first. ASME B30.9 (slings) and ASME B30.26 (rigging hardware) are commonly referenced for inspection items and removal criteria, but they are not the federal rule itself.

Every item also needs a legible ID tag showing its rated capacity. A sling whose rating cannot be read should not be used until the manufacturer or a qualified person confirms it. Removal limits (how many broken wires, how much stretch or wear) depend on the sling type and size, so use the manufacturer's numbers.

OSHA sling inspection requirements when a sling fails the check

OSHA sling inspection requirements end in one direction when damage is found. Damaged or defective slings are removed from service, and the safe practice is to remove them immediately, before anyone is tempted to "make one more lift".

A routine that holds up:

1. Take the sling out of use and tag it "Do Not Use".
2. Write the defect on the log: which sling, what damage, who found it and when.
3. Put it where it cannot be picked up by mistake, such as a locked bin.
4. Destroy it, or send it to the manufacturer if the manufacturer repairs that type and proof-tests it.
5. Write the date it was destroyed or sent away.

"Monitor" is a fair result for wear within the manufacturer's limits, but it means the next check looks at that spot first. If two people disagree, the sling comes out. Nobody should be blamed for removing a sling.

OSHA sling inspection requirements for records

OSHA sling inspection requirements in paragraph (d) do not, in the wording cited here, ask for a written record of the daily check. A dated line per sling, with a name on it, is still the practical way to prove the check happened and that a damaged sling was taken out. Other paragraphs of 1910.184 deal with specific sling types and may say more about records, so read the current section.

What most employers keep:

• An inventory of every sling and hardware item with ID number, type, size, rated capacity and in-service date.
• The daily check, either on a per-sling line or on a per-day sheet with initials.
• Periodic inventory checks with the date and findings.
• Removal records: the reason and the date each item was taken out and destroyed.

State Plans, insurers and general contractors often ask for more, and some ask for the periodic record to be kept for a set period. Check theirs before you decide how long to keep the sheets.

How the template records sling inspections

OSHA sling inspection requirements are easiest to show with one line per sling or hardware item. The Rigging Inspection Checklist is set up that way. It has 22 lines per sheet, one sheet per site per month, and a result on every line. It is a way to record checks, not an official OSHA form.

Each line has:

• ID number, gear type (wire rope sling, synthetic web sling, round sling, alloy chain sling, shackle, hook, eye bolt or other), size, WLL in pounds and in-service date.
• Inspection date and four damage checks: broken wires or fraying, reduced diameter or stretch, kinks or distortion, corrosion or heat damage (None or Found).
• End fittings and eyes (Pass or Fail) and ID tag legible (Yes or No).
• Result: OK to use, Monitor, or Remove from service, shown in red, with the reason, the date removed or destroyed, and who inspected.

Use the same sheet for the daily check and for the periodic inventory check. For the crane itself, use the crane inspection checklist.

OSHA sling inspection requirements FAQ

These are the questions about OSHA sling inspection requirements that come up most often.

How often does OSHA require sling inspections?

Under 29 CFR 1910.184(d), each day before the sling is used, by a competent person designated by the employer.

Does OSHA require an annual sling inspection?

Paragraph (d) sets a daily check before use. Many employers add a periodic inventory check, often monthly or yearly, and other paragraphs, State Plans or insurers may set more. Read the current section for your sling types.

Do I have to write down daily sling inspections?

The paragraph cited here does not say so, but a written line per sling is the clearest proof. Many general contractors require it.

Who can inspect slings under OSHA?

A competent person designated by the employer. Name the person in writing and make sure they know the manufacturer's removal criteria.

Is a sling checklist an OSHA form?

No. OSHA does not publish a standard sling checklist. Use the manufacturer's instructions, the current rule and a form that fits your gear.