Metal mesh slings shall be removed from service if any of the following exists: Broken weld, lack of flexibility, distortion of the handles, ALL OF THE ABOVE

• A. Broken weld
• B. Lack of flexibility
• C. Distortion of the handles
• D. ALL OF THE ABOVE

Answer: (D)

Any sign that damages a metal mesh sling’s ability to carry a load safely means it must be removed from service. A broken weld breaks the continuous load path, weakening the sling and making failure likely under load. Lack of flexibility means the sling won’t contour properly to the load or spread the load evenly, which can cause localized stress, tearing, or snagging and increases the chance of sudden failure. Distortion of the handles shows that the end fittings have been overstressed or deformed, reducing capacity and signaling compromised integrity. Because each of these conditions individually compromises safety, the correct approach is to remove the sling from service, and only reintroduce it after repair or replacement by a qualified person.