Lifting gear covers the slings, shackles, hooks, clamps, and hoists used to lift, lower, and move a load — and every piece must be marked with its rated capacity and inspected before use.
A worn shackle or a sling used at the wrong angle can drop a load on someone. U.S. workplace rules treat the hardware hanging off a crane or hoist as a system: the sling, hook, attachment point, and load all have to match. This article covers what counts as lifting gear, the types and names on a job site, and the marking, testing, and inspection rules that apply today.
What Counts As Lifting Gear?
Lifting gear is any equipment used to lift or lower a load, plus accessories and attachments used to anchor, fix, or support it. OSHwiki guidance from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work draws the line at attachment points: a crane is hoisting equipment, while the slings, hooks, clamps, and shackles below it are lifting gear and accessories.
OSHA’s scope is narrower. The rigging rule at 29 CFR 1926.251 covers slings used with other equipment for hoisting material, naming five types: alloy steel chain, wire rope, metal mesh, natural or synthetic fiber rope, and synthetic web. That list is the starting point for what to inspect and mark.
The Main Types Of Lifting Gear And Their Names
Most rigging setups use slings to carry the load, hardware to connect the sling to the hook, and below-the-hook devices to spread or grip the load. Names matter because rated capacity is listed per component, and mismatches are a common rigging failure.
Slings are the load-bearing straps, chains, and ropes. OSHA 1926.251 covers chain slings, wire rope slings, synthetic web slings (nylon, polyester, polypropylene), natural and synthetic fiber rope slings, and metal mesh slings. Welded alloy steel chain slings must be permanently marked with size, grade, rated capacity, and manufacturer.
Rigging hardware is the connective group: shackles, eyebolts, hoist rings, turnbuckles, wire rope clips, swivels, and similar connectors, grouped under rigging hardware with emphasis on capacity marking and compatibility.
Below-the-hook devices change how the load is held. OSHA references spreader bars, lifting beams, grabs, clamps, rings, oblong links, pear-shaped links, and welded or mechanical coupling links. Hooks, rings, and links used with alloy steel chains must have a rated capacity at least equal to the chain they attach to.
| Gear Type | Common Names | What To Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Chain slings | Alloy steel chain sling | Permanent mark: size, grade, rated capacity, maker |
| Wire rope slings | Sling, choker | Capacity for the actual angle and configuration |
| Synthetic web slings | Nylon, polyester, polypropylene | Tag legible, no cuts, burns, or UV damage |
| Fiber rope slings | Three-strand rope sling | Capacity reduction at wide angles |
| Metal mesh slings | Mesh sling | Broken wires, distorted mesh, damaged edge |
| Rigging hardware | Shackles, eyebolts, turnbuckles, clips, swivels | Capacity at least equal to the sling it joins |
| Below-the-hook devices | Spreader bars, lifting beams, grabs, clamps, hoist rings | Proof test and rated load for the lift |
Unless a tag spells out the working load limit for your configuration, you are guessing. Inspect each component against its rated load before each lift — the OSHA rigging rule at 29 CFR 1926.251 lays out the marking and proof-test duties. If buying your own gear, a tested roundup of lifting gear picks by lift type can help you compare slings, shackles, and hoists.
Marking, Inspection, And Loading Rules
Lifting gear must be visibly marked with its working load limit, and rigging gear for material handling must be inspected before each shift and as needed during use. Defective gear comes out of service immediately.
- Hooks must have self-closing safety latches or an equivalent under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.753, so a sling cannot slip off.
- Check for overhead power lines before lifting — contact is a leading cause of serious rigging injuries.
- The load, attachment points, and gear must suit the lift in front of you, not last week’s lift.
- Never exceed rated capacity. Attachments with lower capacity than the chain or sling they join are a common, dangerous mismatch.
Related standards: OSHA 1910.179, 1910.180, 1910.184, 1926.251, and 1926.550, with the ASME B30 series covering slings (B30.9), hooks (B30.10), below-the-hook lifting devices (B30.20), lever hoists (B30.21), and rigging hardware (B30.26).
Common Questions
Is a crane considered lifting gear?
A crane is usually classified as hoisting equipment rather than lifting gear. The slings, shackles, and hooks attached below it are what OSHwiki calls lifting gear and accessories. OSHA regulates cranes and derricks under separate standards from the rigging equipment rule at 1926.251.
How often does rigging gear need to be inspected?
OSHA requires rigging gear used for material handling to be inspected before each shift and as necessary during use. Periodic inspections do not replace that pre-use check. Defective gear must be removed from service before the next lift.
Why does the rated capacity matter so much?
Rated capacity is the maximum load a component can hold in a specific configuration. A sling’s working load limit drops as the angle between its legs widens, and attachments with lower capacity than the chain or sling they connect create a weak point. Gear, attachments, and load all have to match the lift.
Sources
- OSHA. “1926.251 — Rigging equipment for material handling.” Defines covered sling types and marking, proof-test, and inspection duties.
- EU-OSHA OSHwiki. “Lifting operations and lifting equipment.” Source for the definition of lifting equipment and accessories.
- OSHA. “Cranes and Derricks.” Hub page for hoisting and rigging standards referenced above.