Instructions for the safe use of:

Shackles
The information in this leaflet should be passed to the user of the equipment

This document is issued in accordance with the requirements of Do not alter, modify or repair shackles and never replace
Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, missing pins with unidentified pins, bolts etc, but refer such
amended March 1988. It outlines the care and safe use of matters to a Competent Person.
SHACKLES and is based on Section 18 of the LEEA Code of Never galvanise or subject a shackle to other plating processes
Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment.* It should be without the approval of the supplier.
read in conjunction with the requirements for general purpose
slinging practice given overleaf, the principles of which may be Using Shackles Safely
applied to the use of shackles with or without slings.
Do not attempt lifting operations unless you understand the use
This information is of a general nature only covering the main of the equipment, the slinging procedures and the mode factors
points for the safe use of shackles. It may be necessary to to be applied.
supplement this information for specific applications.
Do not use defective shackles or unidentified pins.
Shackles should be fitted so that the body takes the load along
ALWAYS: its centre line and is not subjected to side bending loads. When
connecting a number of sling legs, and similar applications,
• Store and handle shackles correctly. position them so that they do not impose a side load on the
• Inspect shackles before use and before placing into storage. shackle jaws. Use spacers to position them if necessary.
• Select the correct pattern of shackle and pin for the Ensure the pin is correctly screwed into the shackle eye.
application. Tighten by hand, use a small bar to lock the collar to the
• Allow for the full resultant imposed load. shackle eye. Check that the thread is fully engaged with the
body but is not too long so that tightening causes the body to
• Fully tighten the pin. deform.
• Ensure the load acts through the centre line of the shackle With bolt and nut pins ensure the nut jams on the inner end of
using spacers if necessary to meet this requirement. the thread and not on the eye of the shackle. The bolt should be
free to rotate with minimal side float. The split cotter pin must be
NEVER: fitted before making a lift.
• Use shackles with bent pins or deformed bodies. When using shackles with slings in choke hitch, or in other
• Force, hammer or wedge shackles into position. applications where there may be movement, place the pin
through the eye or link of the sling and never in contact with the
• Eccentrically load shackles. bight of the choke or moving parts which may cause the pin to
• Replace the pin with a bolt. unscrew.
• Fit pins in contact with moving parts which may loosen or In-service Inspection and Maintenance
unscrew them.
Maintenance requirements are minimal. Keep shackles clean,
• Shock load shackles. the threads free of debris and protect from corrosion.
Regularly inspect shackles and, in the event of the following
defects, refer the shackle to a Competent Person for thorough
Selecting the Correct Shackle examination: illegible markings; distorted, worn, stretched or
Shackles are available in a range of material grades, sizes and bent body; bent pin; damaged or incomplete thread forms;
designs. Select the shackle to be used and plan the lift taking nicks, gouges, cracks or corrosion; incorrect pin; any other
the following into account: defect.
Type of shackle to be used - dee or bow, British Standard or
other design. © Lifting Equipment Engineers Association 2004 SI No. 6.2
Type of pin - screwed with collar and eye are suitable for Further information is given in:
general purposes; with countersunk head for where clearance * The Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment,
is limited; bolt and nut for where the pin may be out of sight or
published by:
subject to movement.
Full resultant imposed load - when using shackles with multi-leg LIFTING EQUIPMENT ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION
slings remember that as the included angle increases and so 3, Osprey Court, Kingfisher Way,
does the load in the leg and any attachment to the leg. When Hinchingbrooke Business Park, Huntingdon PE29 6FN
used to suspend pulley blocks account must be taken of the United Kingdom
imposed load due to operating effort. Tel: + 44 (0) 1480 432801
Fax: + 44 (0) 1480 436314
E-mail: mail@leea.co.uk
CAUTION: BS and ISO Standard shackles are designed and
rated for the pin to accept a central point load. Other, commonly
available, types are designed and rated for the load to be
evenly distributed over the full width of the pin. Unless the basis
for rating is clearly stated it should be assumed that the jaw
must be fully filled and the load evenly spread across the
shackle pin width.

Storing and Handling Shackles

Never return damaged shackles to storage. They should be dry,
clean and protected from corrosion.
 GENERAL PURPOSE SLINGING PRACTICE Safe use of Slings
The following information is based on Section 1 - Appendix 1.5 o Good slinging practice must ensure that the load is as safe
of the LEEA Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting and secure in the air as it was on the ground and that no
Equipment.* It should be read in conjunction with the harm is done to the load, lifting equipment, other property or
instructions for the safe use, given overleaf, of which it forms an persons.
integral part and with any specific instructions issued by the o Establish the weight of the load, ensure the lifting method is
supplier. suitable and inspect the sling and attachments for obvious
This information is of a general nature only covering the main defects. Prepare the landing area making sure the floor is
points for the safe use of various types of slings for general strong enough to take the load. Follow any specific
lifting purposes. instructions from the supplier.
o Ensure the lifting point is over the centre of gravity. Any loose
parts of the load should be removed or secured. Secure the
ALWAYS: sling firmly to the load by hooks onto lifting points or shackles
etc. The sling must not be twisted, knotted or kinked in any
• Plan the lift, establish the weight of the load and prepare the way.
landing area ensuring that it will take the weight.
o Use packing to prevent damage to the sling from corners or
• Check slings and equipment are free of damage, use edges and to protect the load.
slings/slinging methods suitable for the load and protect
slings from sharp edges and corners. o Do not exceed the SWL or rated angle. Any choke angle
must not exceed 120° and any basket 90°.
• Attach the sling securely to the load and appliance and
position hooks to face outwards. o Do not hammer, force or wedge slings or accessories into
position; they must fit freely.
• Ensure the load is balanced and will not tilt or fall.
o When attaching more than one sling to the hook of the
• Keep fingers, toes etc clear when tensioning slings and when appliance use a shackle to join the slings and avoid
landing loads. overcrowding the hook.
• Ensure that the load is free to be lifted. o Use an established code of signals to instruct the crane
• Make a trial lift and trial lower. driver.
o Ensure the load is free to be lifted and not, for example,
NEVER: bolted down.
• Use damaged slings or accessories. o Check that there are no overhead obstacles such as power
• Twist, knot or tie slings. lines.
• Hammer slings into position. o Keep fingers, toes etc clear ensuring they do not become
trapped when lifting, lowering or controlling loads.
• Overload slings due to the weight of the load or the mode of
use. o Make a trial lift by raising the load a little to ensure it is
balanced, stable and secure and if not lower it and adjust the
• Trap slings when landing the load. slinging arrangement.
• Drag slings over floors etc or attempt to pull trapped slings o Where appropriate use tag lines to control the load.
from under loads.
o Except where special provision is made, do not allow anyone
• Allow personnel to ride on loads. to pass under or ride upon the load. The area should be kept
clear.
o Make a trial set down, ensure the sling will not become
Sling Configurations and Rating trapped and the load will not tip when the slings are released.
Slings are available in single, two, three and four leg or endless Use supports which are strong enough to sustain the load
form. In practice it will be found that chain, wire rope and fibre without crushing.
rope slings are available in any of these configurations but that o Never drag slings over floors etc or attempt to drag a trapped
flat woven webbing is limited to single leg and endless whilst sling from under a load.
roundslings are only supplied in endless form. The maximum
load that a sling may lift in use will be governed by the slinging o Never use a sling to drag a load.
arrangement (mode of use) and may vary from the marked o Place the hooks of free legs back onto the master link and
SWL.** In the case of textile slings the SWL for the various take care to ensure that empty hooks do not become
modes of use is usually given on the information label. In other accidentally engaged.
cases it is necessary to multiply the marked SWL by a mode
factor.*** o Never use slings in contact with chemicals or heat without the
manufacturers approval.
The following three simple rules will ensure that the sling is not
overloaded. In some cases this will mean that the sling will be o Never use damaged or contaminated slings.
under utilised although this is unlikely to hinder the user unduly. o On completion of the lift return all equipment to proper
Where the maximum utilisation is required reference should be storage.
made to a Competent Person who understands the factors
involved and who can perform the necessary calculations.
(1) For straight lift never exceed the marked SWL and in the
case of multi-leg slings the specified angle or range of Further information is given in:
angles. * LEEA Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting
(2) When using slings in choke hitch multiply the marked SWL Equipment.
by 0.8 to obtain the reduced maximum load the sling may ** BS 6166 Part 1 - Lifting Slings, Methods of Rating.
lift ie reduce the safe working load by 20%.
*** BS 6166 Part 3 - Selection and Safe Use of Lifting Slings
(3) With multi-leg slings, when using less than the full number for Multi-purposes.
of legs, reduce the maximum load in proportion to the
number of legs in use. Simply multiply the marked SWL by **** HSE Guidance Note GS39 - Training of Crane Drivers and
the number of legs in use expressed as a fraction of the Slingers.
total thus: one leg of a two leg sling = ½ marked SWL, Various British Standards covering individual products.
three legs of a four leg sling = ¾ marked SWL and so on.

Operative Training
Slings should only be used by trained operatives who
understand the methods of rating and application of mode
factors.****
SI GSP 1.1 (2000)