CPCS Slinger Signaller Operations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: As the included angle between the legs of a two-leg sling increases beyond 90°, what happens to the effective working load limit on each leg?
- It increases proportionally
- It decreases, placing greater stress on each leg (Correct answer)
- It remains unchanged
- It transfers entirely to the shortest leg
Correct answer: It decreases, placing greater stress on each leg
As the sling angle increases the tension in each leg rises, effectively reducing the load the sling can safely carry; wide sling angles significantly reduce the working load limit.
Question 2: Which type of lifting accessory is best suited for lifting loads with sharp edges where cutting or abrasion is a concern?
- Flat webbing sling without protection
- Round polyester sling
- Chain sling (Correct answer)
- Natural fibre rope sling
Correct answer: Chain sling
Chain slings are most resistant to damage from sharp edges and abrasion, making them the preferred choice when lifting steel beams or other loads with sharp corners.
Question 3: What information is required to be marked on a sling's identification tag?
- Purchase date and supplier name only
- SWL/WLL, material, size and unique identification (Correct answer)
- Only the last inspection date
- The name of the appointed person who approved it
Correct answer: SWL/WLL, material, size and unique identification
LOLER requires that lifting accessories carry permanent markings or an identification tag showing their safe working load, material type, size and a unique reference for traceability.
Question 4: When determining the centre of gravity of a load, why is this information critical for the slinger?
- It determines what colour sling to use
- It ensures the lifting point is directly above the balance point so the load is stable and level (Correct answer)
- It is only relevant for loads over 5 tonnes
- It tells the operator which gear to select
Correct answer: It ensures the lifting point is directly above the balance point so the load is stable and level
Positioning the hook directly above the centre of gravity ensures the load hangs level and stable during the lift, preventing dangerous swinging or tilting.
Question 5: A slinger discovers that a sling has kinks, crushed strands or a missing/illegible identification tag. What must they do?
- Use it for loads under half its rated SWL
- Wrap the damaged area with tape and continue
- Remove it from service immediately and report the defect (Correct answer)
- Only use it if the lift is under 1 metre high
Correct answer: Remove it from service immediately and report the defect
Any sling showing kinks, structural damage or a missing identification tag must be immediately removed from service and reported, as its safe working load can no longer be relied upon.
Question 6: Before a complex lift begins, who is responsible for producing the written lift plan?
- The crane operator
- The slinger/signaller on the day
- The appointed person or lifting supervisor (Correct answer)
- The site foreman
Correct answer: The appointed person or lifting supervisor
The appointed person — someone with the appropriate knowledge, training and experience — is responsible for planning lifting operations, including producing the lift plan.
Question 7: What reduction in the sling's rated load capacity applies when using a single-leg chain sling at a 45° angle to the vertical?
- No reduction is needed at 45°
- A factor of approximately 0.7 is applied, reducing capacity to about 70% (Correct answer)
- Capacity is reduced by 50%
- Capacity is doubled to compensate for the angle
Correct answer: A factor of approximately 0.7 is applied, reducing capacity to about 70%
At a 45° angle to the vertical, the effective capacity of a single-leg sling is reduced by a factor of approximately 0.7 (cosine of 45°), meaning only about 70% of the rated SWL is available.
CPCS Slinger Signaller Operations 2
As the included angle between the legs of a two-leg sling increases beyond 90°, what happens to the effective working load limit on each leg?