Which statement correctly distinguishes Working Load Limit (WLL) and Safe Working Load (SWL)?

• A. WLL and SWL are interchangeable terms.
• B. WLL is the maximum load a rigging product is intended to lift under normal conditions, while SWL is the safe load assigned to equipment.
• C. WLL is the maximum load a rigging product can lift under any conditions.
• D. WLL is the weight of the rigging hardware; SWL is the crane's maximum capacity.

Answer: (C)

WLL and SWL both describe the safe capacity of rigging gear, but they come from different naming traditions. The key idea is that the rating on a product is the maximum load it is designed and tested to lift safely when used as the manufacturer specifies (the defined usage conditions, including angles, wear, dynamic factors, etc.). SWL is the older term meaning the safe working load assigned to equipment, and in modern practice WLL often serves the same purpose, though terminology can vary by standard or region. The important takeaway is that these values represent safe limits under the defined use, not under every possible real-world condition.