1910.184(f): Wire Rope Sling Use and Removal
Employers must use only wire rope slings with permanent, legible ID markings showing safe working load, hitch, angle and legs. The rule sets minimum clear lengths, removes fiber core slings exposed above 200 F, requires the maker's guidance above 400 F or below -60 F, requires welded end attachments to be proof tested at twice rated capacity, and lists damage, like broken wires, that requires removal from service.
Key takeaways
- 1910.184(f) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 39 times in the last 3 years, in 30 inspections, with $144,281 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (8), OH (7), NJ (4).
- Related part: 1910.184(f)(5) Removal from service (19 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.184(f) ("Wire-rope slings") is one requirement inside 1910.184 Slings, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). It includes 17 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(f) Wire-rope slings — 39 citations
(1) Sling use. Employers must use only wire-rope slings that have permanently affixed and legible identification markings as prescribed by the manufacturer, and that indicate the recommended safe working load for the type(s) of hitch(es) used, the angle upon which it is based, and the number of legs if more than one. Open (f)(1) 18 citations
(2) Minimum sling lengths.
(i) Cable laid and 6 × 19 and 6 × 37 slings shall have a minimum clear length of wire rope 10 times the component rope diameter between splices, sleeves or end fittings.
(ii) Braided slings shall have a minimum clear length of wire rope 40 times the component rope diameter between the loops or end fittings.
(iii) Cable laid grommets, strand laid grommets and endless slings shall have a minimum circumferential length of 96 times their body diameter.
(3) Safe operating temperatures. Fiber core wire rope slings of all grades shall be permanently removed from service if they are exposed to temperatures in excess of 200 °F. When nonfiber core wire rope slings of any grade are used at temperatures above 400 °F or below minus 60 °F, recommendations of the sling manufacturer regarding use at that temperature shall be followed.
(4) End attachments. 2 citations
(i) Welding of end attachments, except covers to thimbles, shall be performed prior to the assembly of the sling.
(ii) All welded end attachments shall not be used unless proof tested by the manufacturer or equivalent entity at twice their rated capacity prior to initial use. The employer shall retain a certificate of the proof test, and make it available for examination. 2 citations
(5) Removal from service. Wire rope slings shall be immediately removed from service if any of the following conditions are present: Open (f)(5) 19 citations
(i) Ten randomly distributed broken wires in one rope lay, or five broken wires in one strand in one rope lay. 6 citations
(ii) Wear or scraping of one-third the original diameter of outside individual wires.
(iii) Kinking, crushing, bird caging or any other damage resulting in distortion of the wire rope structure. 8 citations
(iv) Evidence of heat damage.
(v) End attachments that are cracked, deformed or worn. 1 citations
(vi) Hooks that have been opened more than 15 percent of the normal throat opening measured at the narrowest point or twisted more than 10 degrees from the plane of the unbent hook. 1 citations
(vii) Corrosion of the rope or end attachments. Open (f)(5)(vii) 2 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.184.
Export the list: 30 inspections cited 1910.184(f) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.184(f).
At 10:28 p.m. on November 4, 2024, an employee working as an oil well driller for a drilling company was holding pipes to be lifted. The bleeder valve cable that is attached to the elevator broke causing the 30-pound bleeder valve to fall 90 feet…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 10 |
Top states: TX (8), OH (7), NJ (4), VA (3), NY (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WHITE RIVER OPERATING, LLC | WOODVILLE, MS | $23,170 |
| CORESLAB STRUCTURES, INC | MARSHALL, MO | $15,322 |
| VEHTEK SYSTEMS INC. | BOWLING GREEN, OH | $14,777 |
| NEXTEEL SAHA, LLC | CROSBY, TX | $13,902 |
| NORTHSTAR CEMETERY SERVICES OF TEXAS, LLC | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.184(f), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.184(f).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.184(f)(5) Removal from service 19 citations
- 1910.184(f)(1) Sling use 18 citations
- 1910.184(f)(5)(vii) 2 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must a wire rope sling tag show?
The recommended safe working load for the hitches used, the angle it is based on, and the number of legs if more than one.
What temperature takes a fiber core sling out of service?
Exposure to temperatures in excess of 200 F.
How are welded end attachments tested?
Proof tested by the manufacturer or equivalent at twice their rated capacity before initial use, with a certificate kept.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.184 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.