What standards govern crane rigging inspection in Australia and the United States?

In Australia AS 4991 (Lifting devices) sets requirements for slings shackles and below-the-hook lifting devices including discard criteria marking and inspection. AS 3775 covers grade T chain slings specifically. AS 2759 governs wire rope. The WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 5 Part 5.1 places a duty on the PCBU to ensure lifting plant and gear is maintained and inspected. In the United States OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251 requires a competent person inspection of rigging equipment before each shift and as needed. ASME B30.9 covers slings and ASME B30.10 covers hooks. In the United Kingdom LOLER 1998 applies.

When should a wire rope sling be removed from service?

A wire rope sling must be removed from service when any of the AS 2759 or AS 4991 discard criteria are met: six or more randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay length three or more broken wires in one strand in one lay length rope diameter reduction greater than 10 percent of nominal kinking birdcaging crushed or flattened strands core protrusion heat damage corrosion that has weakened individual wires or any damage at the end terminations (ferrule splice or hand splice). The sling must be tagged out of service physically removed from the rigging store and either repaired by a qualified service agent or scrapped.

What is a competent person for rigging inspection?

A competent person for rigging inspection has the knowledge training and experience to identify defects in lifting gear apply discard criteria from the relevant standards and authorise the removal of unfit items from service. In Australia this is generally a rigger with current high-risk work licence (intermediate or advanced) or a dedicated lifting equipment inspector. The 12-monthly periodic inspection under AS 4991 should be performed by a person with formal lifting equipment inspection training and may require accreditation through a recognised industry body or service provider.

Do synthetic webbing slings have an expiry date?

Synthetic webbing slings do not have a universal expiry date in the same way some PPE does but most manufacturers specify a maximum service life of 5 to 10 years from the date of first use depending on usage exposure and storage conditions. The sling must be discarded earlier if any of the AS 4991 discard criteria are met cuts abrasion broken stitching heat or chemical damage UV degradation or illegible tag. Always check the manufacturer specification for the specific sling and maintain a date-of-first-use record on each item.

Do spreader bars and lifting beams need a proof load test?

Yes. Below-the-hook lifting devices including spreader bars equaliser beams lifting beams plate clamps and engineered lifting devices require a documented proof load test under AS 4991. The test is typically performed at commissioning after major repair or modification and as part of the 12-monthly periodic inspection. The proof load is generally 125 percent of the rated working load and the test certificate must be retained and the device marked with the current test date. Devices without a current proof load certificate must not be used.

Free crane rigging inspection checklist

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Free crane rigging inspection checklist (PDF-ready). Covers slings, shackles, spreader bars, hooks and rigging hardware to AS 4991 and OSHA 1926.251.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 18 May 2026

Also see:Compliance and inspections →Best inspection software →MapTrack vs SafetyCulture →

Updated 18 May 2026

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What is a crane rigging inspection checklist?

A crane rigging inspection checklist is a structured form used by riggers and doggers to verify the condition of every piece of lifting gear that connects a load to the crane hook before each lift. It covers slings (wire rope synthetic webbing round chain), shackles, eye bolts, master links, hooks and safety latches, spreader bars and equaliser beams, plate clamps, lifting beams, swivels and tag lines. The inspection is performed at pre-use level (visual and tactile by the rigger before each lift) and at periodic level (12-monthly by a competent person under AS 4991). Each item is checked against discard criteria specific to its construction: broken wires per rope lay for wire rope slings, cuts or chemical damage for synthetic slings, gouges and crown wear for chain slings, and load rating versus the planned suspended load.\n\nRigging failure is one of the leading causes of dropped load incidents on construction and resources sites. A defective sling that parts under load can drop several tonnes onto workers and assets in a fraction of a second. AS 4991 (Lifting devices) sets the discard criteria, marking and inspection requirements for slings and below-the-hook devices in Australia, while AS 3775 covers chain slings specifically. In the United States OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251 mandates a competent person inspection of rigging equipment before each shift and as needed during use. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) impose a similar duty on duty holders in the United Kingdom. Maintaining a documented rigging inspection register per item with photographic evidence and discard records demonstrates compliance during regulator audits and insurance assessments, and protects the PCBU from liability after a dropped load incident.

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Benefits of using this crane rigging inspection checklist

Dropped load prevention: pre-lift inspection catches damaged slings shackles or hooks before they fail under load and drop the load onto workers or assets
AS 4991 and OSHA 1926.251 compliance: documents pre-shift and periodic rigging inspections required for lifting gear in Australia and the United States
Discard accountability: applies standard-specified discard criteria for wire rope synthetic webbing chain and hardware so unfit items are removed from the inventory before use
Traceability per item: serial numbered slings shackles and below-the-hook devices have individual inspection histories supporting incident investigations and proof load re-tests
Below-the-hook coverage: includes spreader bars equaliser beams lifting beams and plate clamps which are often overlooked in basic sling inspections but carry the full suspended load
Asset register integrity: completed inspections feed the lifting gear register so expired or removed items cannot be re-issued from the rigging store

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you digitise rigging checklists in MapTrack, you get:

Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
Ability to share forms digitally.
Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
Electronic signatures.
Edit forms later without reprinting.
Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

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What to include in a crane rigging inspection checklist

This crane rigging inspection checklist covers 9 key areas:

Rigging job details: site lift description load weight rigging configuration crane ID and SWL of the planned configuration
Wire rope slings: rope diameter end terminations (ferrule splice hand splice) broken wires per lay length birdcaging kinking corrosion and tag legibility
Synthetic webbing slings: webbing condition (cuts abrasion UV degradation) stitching condition heat or chemical damage label legibility and rated capacity tag
Chain slings: chain grade (T8 T10) crown wear gouges nicks weld integrity master link condition and component compatibility
Shackles and hardware: shackle type and rating pin condition body wear corrosion eye bolts master links and swivels with rated working load markings
Hooks and safety latches: hook throat opening and twist hook body wear safety latch operation and spring tension
Spreader bars and lifting beams: structural condition end fittings rated capacity at the planned span and certification tag currency
Below-the-hook devices: plate clamps drum lifters c-hooks and engineered lifting beams with documented current proof load test
Sign-off: rigger name and high-risk work licence number competent person signature for periodic inspection date and discard actions taken

How to use this crane rigging inspection checklist

Lay out and identify each item: spread the rigging required for the planned lift on a clean surface and verify each item has a legible tag with serial number rated capacity and current inspection date. Cross-reference each tag against the rigging register and confirm the rated capacity is sufficient for the planned suspended load including dynamic and angle factors
Inspect wire rope slings against AS 4991 discard criteria: visually inspect and run a gloved hand along the full length checking for broken wires (six or more in one lay or three or more in one strand per AS 2759) birdcaging kinking corrosion crushed strands and damage at the end terminations. Measure rope diameter at the point of greatest wear and discard if reduced more than 10 percent of nominal
Inspect synthetic webbing slings: lay the sling flat and visually check both sides for cuts abrasion broken stitching heat damage chemical staining and UV degradation. Any cut deeper than 10 percent of the webbing width or any damage that exposes the load-bearing core fibres is cause for immediate discard per the manufacturer specification
Inspect chain slings and hardware: check each chain link for crown wear stretch gouges weld cracks and twist. Inspect shackles for pin condition (must screw fully home no thread damage) body wear at the crown corrosion and load rating markings. Inspect hooks for throat opening (compare to original specification) twist body wear and that the safety latch operates and springs closed reliably
Inspect spreader bars and below-the-hook devices: verify the rated capacity at the planned span confirm the certification tag is current and check the structural integrity of welds end fittings and lift points. Below-the-hook lifting beams plate clamps and engineered devices require a current proof load test certificate per AS 4991 typically within 12 months
Record findings tag discards and sign off: mark any items that do not meet the discard criteria with a red discard tag and remove them physically from the rigging store. Record each discard on the inspection form note any items requiring proof load re-test and sign the inspection with the rigger high-risk work licence number and date

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How often should you complete this checklist?

Rigging gear must be inspected at three levels of frequency. First the rigger or competent operator performs a pre-use visual and tactile inspection before every lift. Second a documented pre-shift inspection is required under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251 and is best practice under AS 4991. Third a periodic inspection by a competent person is required every 12 months in Australia under AS 4991 and AS 3775 with discard criteria applied and a written record maintained per item.\n\nIn addition rigging gear must be inspected immediately after any incident shock loading or overload and after exposure to chemicals fire heat or other damaging conditions. Below-the-hook devices such as spreader bars and lifting beams require a documented proof load test typically every 12 months or after major repair under AS 4991. In MapTrack each piece of rigging can be tracked as a serialised asset with automated reminders for periodic inspection and proof load re-testing.

Frequently asked questions

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

AS 4991
AS 3775
AS 2759
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.251
ASME B30.9
LOLER 1998
WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 5

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