We are 3P Safety Inspections, a third-party crane inspection company working all 50 states. Our team carries NCCCO certification. We inspect to OSHA and the ASME B30 codes, and we do not sell or rent cranes — so our reports just give you the facts.
We reach most sites in 24 to 72 hours.
Each-Use Inspection
Before every lift, the rigger (a designated competent person) inspects each sling and fitting.
It is a hands-on look for the damage that retires rigging: broken wires or cuts, kinks and crushing, corrosion, heat or chemical damage, stretched or cracked links and hooks, and — the most common single reason gear is pulled — a missing or unreadable tag. No legible rated capacity, no lift.
Download our free rigging & sling inspection sheet to run the each-use check the same way every time, across wire-rope, chain, and synthetic slings.
Rather have it inspected? Our NCCCO-certified inspectors perform rigging inspections in all 50 states. Request a quote and hear back in about a business day.
Periodic Documented Inspection
On top of the each-use check, OSHA and ASME B30.9 call for a documented periodic inspection — at least annually, and more often in hard or harsh service. A designated person records the condition of every sling and piece of below-the-hook hardware, tags out anything past its removal criteria, and keeps the record. The free sheet above doubles as that periodic record.
When Rigging Comes Out of Service
The removal criteria differ by sling type, and the table below summarizes them. In short: a wire-rope sling comes out at 10 randomly broken wires in one lay or 5 in one strand. A chain sling at cracks, stretch past 3%, or bent links. A synthetic sling at cuts, holes, crushing, or heat and chemical burns. And any sling with a missing or unreadable tag. Hooks (ASME B30.10) and shackles (B30.26) are measured for throat opening, twist, and wear.
When to Remove Rigging From Service (ASME B30.9)
| Sling Type | Remove From Service When… |
|---|---|
| Wire-rope sling | 10 randomly broken wires in one lay, or 5 in one strand. Severe wear, kinking, birdcaging. Cracked or worn fittings |
| Chain sling | Cracks, nicks, gouges, stretch past 3% reach. Bent or twisted links. A missing or unreadable tag |
| Synthetic web sling | Cuts, holes, snags, crushed webbing. Heat, acid, or caustic burns. A missing or unreadable tag |
| Round (endless) sling | Cover cuts that expose the core yarn. Melting, charring, or chemical damage. A missing tag |
The Standards Behind These Checks
Every report names the rule behind each find:
- OSHA 1926.1412 — cranes on construction sites
- OSHA 1910.179 and 1910.180 — cranes in plants
- ASME B30.5, B30.3, and B30.2 — mobile, tower, and overhead cranes
- ASME B30.9 through B30.26 — slings and rigging hardware
- ANSI A92 — aerial work platforms
- EM 385-1-1 — federal and military job sites
What You Get in Your Report
Here is what lands in your inbox:
- Each finding tied to a photo and a rule
- Severity ratings you can act on
- A spreadsheet you can load into your CMMS
- A signed record for your files
- A punch list of what to fix first
Why Owners Pick 3P Safety Inspections
We answer to the standard, not a sales team. We show up when we say and write reports a foreman can read. You know the cost before we start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should slings be inspected?
Before each use by the rigger, under OSHA 1910.184(d), plus a documented periodic inspection at least annually — more often in heavy or severe service. Any sling that fails a criterion comes out of service at once.
When does a wire-rope sling come out of service?
When it shows 10 randomly broken wires in one rope lay or 5 in one strand, severe wear, kinking, crushing, birdcaging, corrosion, heat damage, cracked or worn fittings, or a missing, unreadable tag — per ASME B30.9.
When does a chain sling get removed?
For stretch or reach past 3%, cracks, nicks, gouges, arc burns, bent or twisted links, wear past the maker’s allowable, distorted master links or hooks, or a missing rated-capacity tag.
How do you inspect a synthetic web or round sling?
Run the full length by hand for cuts, holes, snags, crushed or abraded webbing, broken stitching, and heat or chemical burns. On round slings, any cover cut that exposes the core yarn means removal. A missing or unreadable tag is also cause to remove.
What are the hook and shackle removal criteria?
A hook is removed at a throat opening increased past 5%, twist past 10 degrees, wear past 10%, or a latch that will not close (ASME B30.10). Shackles and hardware come out for bending, stretch, wear past 10%, the wrong or unseated pin, cracks, or no legible rating (ASME B30.26).
Can a damaged sling be repaired?
No. Damaged slings are removed from service and destroyed, not repaired in the field. Some fittings can be replaced by the manufacturer, but a sling that hits a removal criterion comes out.
What standards cover rigging and sling inspection?
OSHA 1910.184 for slings, backed by ASME B30.9 (slings), B30.10 (hooks), and B30.26 (shackles, links, rings, and other rigging hardware).
Do you inspect rigging gear nationwide?
Yes. We inspect slings, hooks, shackles, and below-the-hook tools in all 50 states, with NCCCO-certified inspectors and 24-to-72-hour scheduling.
Authoritative References
OSHA 1910.179 — Overhead & Gantry CranesThe official standard, straight from the source.Visit source about OSHA 1910.179 — Overhead & Gantry Cranes
ASME B30 — Safety Standard for Cranes & RiggingThe official standard, straight from the source.Visit source about ASME B30 — Safety Standard for Cranes & Rigging
NCCCO — Crane Operator & Inspector CertificationThe official standard, straight from the source.Visit source about NCCCO — Crane Operator & Inspector Certification