Hi - looking for any advice regarding preffered methods of offloading products with HIAB lifting straps. Had an instance where 4m pallet failed and the load of decking slipped from the strops onto the ground - the driver was using a simple basket method i.e just resting the load on the strops. Talking to the other drivers there is a lot of discussion regarding best method to unload these types of pallets; some arguing when they attended slingers courses that a choke hitch should be used others think a choke and wrap method whilst others simply argue the basket lift is what they have been taught on previous courses. 

It looks on the face of things that a wrap around and choke would have prevented the loading falling when the pallet failed but a couple of drivers adament that the simpler basket lift is a safer method (which i am struggling to see to be honest)

Can anyone with any experience in slinging / offloading offer any advice on this ?

Can I respectfully suggest you are asking the wrong people and that you talk to the manufacturer of the product to invite their comment and guidance.

Was it their pallet failure, if it was on their pallet in the first place (decanted between arrival at depot and transport to site?).

Was the driver trained in the manufacturers methods or reliant on common business practice?

Had the pallet been abused during possession e.g. overstacked as materials are shunted around the yard for access.

If it is an aesthetic product I suspect choke or choke & wrap will be on the Do Not list.

Hi Acorns

It was a 4m pallet of decking boards - iro 800kg weight. The x2 strops were fed through between the bottom board and top board, as the weight lifted the nails on one of the wooden blocks prised away for the wood which unbalanced the pallet already 1m above lorry bed. The load was being 'craddled / basket' held within the strops so once the pallet unbalanced the load simply slid from the strops onto the ground.

Most of the drivers use a choke or a choke wrap around on these items but a couple are adament that craddling the load is the better method. The drivers ensure no-one is in vicinityof truck during off-load but i'm struggling to see how craddling/basket methods are more secure in these cases.

For the pallet timber to twist sounds like an issue with load pattern (over sized lading area).

It also sounds as though the load was merely perched rather than secured to the pallet.

Thanks Boston - this is my initial thought and current thought - it just looks wrong. When i did my first safety training course back in the early 90s i was told by the intsructor 'if it looks dangerous then it probably is'

Using webbing slings to lift pallets in the lifting industry is considered dangerous and is prohibited on most sites. This is because pallets, typically made of wood are not designed to handle the pressure points created by webbing slings, especially when lifting loads. The slings in a choke hitch can cause the pallet to collapse, leading to dropped loads, injuries, or damage to the materials being lifted.  If the slings are used in a basket hitch the loads are not fully secure. 

Instead of using webbing slings, I have implemented the use of pallet forks.  These are designed to securely handle pallets during lifting operations.

Is there an appointed person who can devise a lifting plan for the operation? 

Edited by user 15 August 2024 06:58:55(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified