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  • Choosing the Right Lifting Chain for Your Operations: Key Considerations and Best Practices
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Choosing the Right Lifting Chain for Your Operations: Key Considerations and Best Practices

Choosing the Right Lifting Chain for Your Operations: Key Considerations and Best Practices

When it comes to lifting and rigging operations, selecting the right lifting chain is crucial for ensuring safety, efficiency, and productivity. Lifting chains are essential tools in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, and logistics. This blog will explore the different types of lifting chains, their specific applications, and the key considerations for choosing the appropriate chain for your operations. Additionally, we'll provide tips on maintenance and safety practices to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your lifting chains.


Types of Lifting Chains

  • Grade 60 Stainless Steel Chain
    • Application: Commonly used in a wide range of heavy-duty lifting applications where strength, durability, and corrosion resistance are critical. Some typical applications include marine, mining, construction and manufacturing.
    • Grade 60 lifting chain is renowned for its high resistance to corrosion, thanks to its alloy composition and protective coatings. This makes it particularly suitable for outdoor and marine environments where exposure to moisture and harsh weather conditions could otherwise degrade lesser chains. Its durability against rust ensures longevity and reliability in various industrial and marine lifting applications.

  • Grade 70 Transport Chain

    • Application: Heavy-duty applications like load securement and transport.
    • Characteristics: Made from heat-treated carbon steel, providing higher strength and durability. It's primarily used in the transportation industry and should not be used for overhead lifting.

  • Grade 80 Alloy Chain

    • Application: Overhead lifting and heavy-duty rigging.
    • Characteristics: Made from alloy steel, this chain offers excellent strength, toughness, and wear resistance. It's suitable for overhead lifting and meets strict industry standards.

  • Grade 100 Alloy Chain

    • Application: Overhead lifting and the most demanding rigging applications.
    • Characteristics: This chain is made from alloy steel and offers higher strength and durability than Grade 80. It's ideal for lifting heavy loads and is often used in critical lifting operations. One of the main benefits of using Grade 100 lifting chain is its higher strength-to-weight ratio compared to Grade 80 chains of the same size and weight.

      In fact, Grade 100 provides the user a 25% higher working load limit (WLL) than Grade 80 chains. This means that a worker can lift a load that is 25% heavier before they need to select the next size of chain, thereby resulting in a 30% reduction in the weight of the lifting gear.

Key Considerations for Choosing the Right Lifting Chain

  • Load Capacity

    • Determine the maximum load you need to lift and select a chain with a working load limit (WLL) that meets or exceeds this requirement.

  • Environment

    • Consider the environment in which the chain will be used. Factors such as temperature, humidity, salt air, and chemical exposure can affect the chain's performance and lifespan

  • Chain Size and Length

    • Based on the specific lifting task, choose the appropriate chain size and length. Ensure the chain can handle the load without excessive wear or elongation.

  • Compliance with Standards

    • Ensure the lifting chain meets relevant industry standards and regulations, such as those set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or the Australian Standards (AS).

Maintenance and Safety Practices

  • Regular Inspections

    • In Australia, lifting chain and fittings must be inspected by a competent person at least every 12 months or sooner if the chains are performing more that five lift cycles per week.  Bunzl Safety & Lifting have a national team of inspectors who can inspect, test and tag your lifting chain and chain slings.  Users must also regularly inspect lifting chains for signs of wear, corrosion, deformation, or damage. Replace any chain that shows signs of compromise.

  • Proper Storage

    • Store lifting chains in a clean, dry environment to prevent rust and corrosion. Avoid exposing chains to harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures.

  • Training and Certification

    • Ensure all personnel using lifting chains are appropriately trained and certified. Provide ongoing training to update them on the latest safety practices and regulations. Australian Standard AS3775.2 states that a competent person must inspect  lifting chain and fittings.  AS3775.2 defines a competent person as ‘a person who through a combination of training, education and experience, acquired knowledge and skills enabling that person to correctly perform a specific task’.  The standards go further in Section 4.1 to state the requirements of a competent person saying that they ‘shall be suitably trained, qualified by knowledge and practical experience, and with the necessary instruction to correctly use or make assessments of Grade T(80) and V(100) chain slings.  They shall be able to detect and evaluate defects and weaknesses that may affect the intended performance of the equipment’.

  • Lubrication

    • Regularly lubricate lifting chains to reduce friction and wear. Use a suitable lubricant that won't attract dirt or debris.

  • Load Testing

    • Periodic load testing of your lifting chains must be undertaken to verify their strength and integrity. This helps ensure they can safely handle the intended loads.  Bunzl Safety & Lifting can undertake load testing of lifting chain, chain slings and other lifting equipment at their NATA accredited branches nationally.

Choosing the right lifting chain is essential for the safety and efficiency of your operations. At Bunzl Safety and Lifting, we offer a wide range of high-quality lifting chains and pre-made chain slings, as well as full inspection, testing and repair services of all your lifting, rigging and height safety requirements.

Contact us today to learn more about our products and services and how we can help you select the perfect lifting chain for your operations.




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About Bunzl Safety and Lifting

Bunzl Safety and Lifting offers an integrated approach to the selection, supply, service, and replacement of safety products, resulting in our ability to manage the complete life cycle of your personal and workplace safety requirements. Bunzl Safety and Lifting is a leading manufacturer of safety products, we provide the very best in workwear, corporate wear, PPE, footwear, materials handling, load restraint, and recovery,height safety, and site safety. We are also a leading supplier of some of the best industrial safety brands on the market, including Mack, Ninja, Contego, Boomerang, Beaver, B-Safe, WS Workwear, Frontier, Black Rat, Robertsons, 3M, Honeywell, Ansell, Bolle Safety, DuPont, Donaghys, MSA, Moldex, Steel Blue, Oliver, uvex, Sqwincher, MaxiFlex, DNC Workwear, Mayo Hardware, Gunnebo Industries, Skylotech and Blundstone. We also offer a range of services including product specialisation and consolidation, custom embroidery and branding, lifting equipment and inspections, NATA Accredited testing and services, height safety installed systems and training, managed inventory, eCommerce and digital solutions, clothing fitouts and yearly uniform issues, ethical sourcing, Indigenous Engagement, and environmental responsibility. We have an Australia-wide network of branches that ensures fast shipping across the country.

Bunzl Brands & Operations Pty Ltd (BBO) located at 55 Sarah Andrews Close Erskine Park NSW 2579 quality scope covers: manufacturing, importing, wholesaling, repairing and testing of lifting, rigging equipment, winches, hoists and materials handling products. The manufacture of synthetic slings and webbing products including load restraint and height safety equipment. Manufacture, import, wholesale and distribution of PPE products, workwear and hand tools. Design and development of products and services and the provision of mechanical testing services.