7-5 | Disposal of Damaged / Failed Slings


The best lifting and rigging inspection program is of no value if slings, which are worn out and have been retired, are not properly disposed of.

When it is determined by the inspector that a sling is worn out or damaged beyond use, it should be tagged immediately DO NOT USE.

If it’s determined that the synthetic rope sling will be removed from service, we suggest cutting it down into more manageable sizes before discarding. This extra effort will help to accommodate the needs of most recycling facilities that will accept the damaged rope and also help to make sure that it cannot be used any further.

Synthetic Rope Slings Disposal

Keep the following in mind when disposing of synthetic rope slings:

  • Cut into approximately 3’ to 4’ sections
  • Cut or destroy the eyes of the synthetic rope sling to prevent any further use of the sling
  • If the sling body is long enough to allow for an eye to be reformed by other means, the rope should be cut down to shorter lengths
  • Remove, or separate, any tags and labels from the sling
Lesson tags: synthetic rope sling disposal