Web Sling Technical Committee

By Steve Schroeder, Chair

The Web Sling Technical Committee had an excellent meeting in San Francisco during our Spring Conference. We accomplished a great deal, and still have much to do, but participation was outstanding. We had no trouble securing volunteers to work on ongoing projects.

We had hoped to have WS-2 (mini manual) completed prior to the meeting, however, it was sent back to Committee due to inconsistencies in illustrations on bridle slings. It was agreed to use shackles at the lifting points and oblong master links to the hooks. Mike Gelskey and Charles Lucas are working with Northwest Tag & Label to modify these illustrations. Upon completion, a final draft will be sent to the Board for approval, and then to print.

We discussed a safety alert issued by Lloyds of London, essentially stating that there are correct and incorrect fabrication methods for flat web slings that meet requirements of British Standard (BS EN 1492-1). We disagreed with this alert. Members Charles Lucas and Karl Keisewitt were able to obtain information from the German Certification Body for webbing, roundslings, chains and components stating that the information being professed by Lloyds is in no way a requirement, but rather a suggestion. WSTDA forwarded this information to Lloyds of London in June, but have not yet received a response.

We have discussed D/d ratio testing for web slings during the past few meetings. It is this Committee’s recommendation that the Testing Committee develop a ratio from the Roundsling Committee’s Edge Cut Test Program (currently being conducted). This recommendation has been forwarded to the Board of Directors for consideration.

Fred Ambli and Steve Schroeder will be making a proposal to the Board concerning cycle testing, that could be used by end users to determine out-of-service criteria.

A question was presented to the Committee from the B.30.9 Committee pertaining to the validity of choker hitch ratings. A letter confirming and supporting these values for choker hitch ratings (as published in WS-1 and RS-1) was sent to the B.30.9 Committee.

We are considering the development of a pocket-sized load chart in accordion/fold out style, as a new product. Examples of such products should be forwarded to Schroeder for the Committee’s consideration.

The Roundsling Committee proposed several UV statements for inclusion on the Web Sling warning sheet. It was suggested that any statement concerning UV degradation reference our UV study.

As always, the Web Sling Committee welcomes input and feedback from WSTDA members.

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Web Sling & Tie Down Association

2105 Laurel Bush Rd. • Suite 200 • Bel Air, MD 21015 • phone: 443-640-1070 • fax: 443-640-1031 • wstda@ksgroup.org • www.wstda.com