Is it true that lifting hardware can be expected to experience a significant amount of side loading during lift?

• A. True
• B. Sometimes
• C. Only under certain conditions
• D. False

Answer: (D)

The lift is planned to pull the load along a nearly vertical line, so the lifting hardware mostly carries tension in the upward direction. Side loading, a horizontal force on the hardware, arises when the line of pull is off-center, when sling angles are large, or when the load sways due to wind or crane movement. With proper rigging—attaching at lift points near the load’s center of gravity, using a spreader bar or multiple legs to keep the load level, and controlling swing and wind—the sling angles stay small and the horizontal component remains minimal. Therefore, you should not expect lifting hardware to experience a significant amount of side loading during a well-planned lift. If significant side loading were observed, it would indicate a need to re-rig and correct the setup.