0117 9381 600
We know a thing or two about lifting slings here at Safety Liftin Gear, and today, we're going to pass some of that knowledge on to you. Specifically, we're going to explain why these industrial lifting products are sometimes as colourful as a bowl of Skittles.
So gather round as we shine some light on the rainbow-coloured world of colour-coded lifting slings.
Why Are Lifting Slings Different Colours?
At a glance, it can be hard to differentiate between one lifting sling and another. It's especially difficult to look at a sling and determine its working load limit (WLL) – that is, how much weight it can lift.
Luckily, some bright spark created a very handy lifting sling colour code, quite literally changing the complexion of the lifting industry as a result.
Lifting Sling Colour Code
Whether you're using web slings or round slings, these products typically come in a variety of colours.
This isn't simply a vibrant design choice; the colour coding system is a universally-recognised method of indicating how much weight a sling can handle.
The typical lifting sling colour code goes as follows:
Purple Lifting Slings
Capable of lifting loads up to 1 tonne.
Green Lifting Slings
Capable of lifting loads up to 2 tonnes.
Yellow Lifting Slings
Capable of lifting loads up to 3 tonnes.
Grey Lifting Slings
Capable of lifting loads up to 4 tonnes.
Red Lifting Slings
Capable of lifting loads up to 5 tonnes.
Brown Lifting Slings
Capable of lifting loads up to 6 tonnes.
Blue Lifting Slings
Capable of lifting loads up to 8 tonnes.
Orange Lifting Slings
Capable of lifting loads up to 10 tonnes (and sometimes more depending on the sling in question).
While these colour/weight categories are generally regarded as an industry standard across the board, there may be slight variations between suppliers and manufacturers.
As such, you should always be sure to double-check that the colour of your chosen sling corresponds with the load you're planning to lift.
This information should be readily available in the product description, instruction manual or manufacturer guidelines, if not on the sling itself.
What's the Purpose of All This?
The primary reason for manufacturing lifting slings in all of these different colours is, of course, safety. The different colours make it easy to identify a sling's lifting capabilities at a glance.
In addition to the practical side of it, colour-coded lifting slings help operators to fulfil their legal obligations under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). LOLER requires all lifting equipment to be fit for purpose, appropriate for the task and suitably marked.
While LOLER rules don't specifically state that lifting slings should be coloured according to their WLL, it's become an accepted identifier within the industry that adheres to LOLER guidelines and, most importantly, is effective.
So, there you have it: everything you need to know about colour-coded lifting slings! Click the link below to browse some of our best-selling lifting slings, or contact Safety Liftin Gear here if you need any more information about these products.
