Changed my mind about using old wire rope after a close call on the Seattle waterfront

Had a main hoist line snap on me two weeks ago while lifting a generator housing. It was a 3/4 inch line I'd kept in service a bit too long, thinking the visual checks were enough. The load dropped about six feet before the brakes caught it, and my heart about stopped too. Anyone else move to a strict replacement schedule after something like that, maybe based on hours instead of just looks?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamie_white1mo ago

Man, visual checks on old wire rope? That's like trusting a weather forecast from last year. My uncle ran a rigging crew and had a rule, if you even think about asking if it's still good, it's already trash. Six feet of free fall with a generator sounds like a great way to need a new pair of pants and a new career path. I'd be swapping to a calendar schedule so fast my head would spin, hours used is definitely the smarter way to go.

jenniferw8224d ago

I get where you're coming from with the "if you think it's bad, it's trash" rule, but sometimes a good visual check catches fatigue cracks and broken wires before they become a problem. Hours used is a solid metric, but it doesn't account for rust or nicks from dragging over sharp edges that can happen even in low-use storage. How do you track "hours" accurately on rope that's been swapped between jobs or stored for months, anyway?

dakotawood1mo ago

The calendar schedule is actually required by OSHA for wire rope on cranes, it's not just about hours. They mandate monthly inspections regardless of use.

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