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Alloy steel chain sling inspection record.
A printable record of the periodic inspection OSHA 1910.184 requires for every alloy steel chain sling, with columns for the four conditions the inspection must cover. Free, no signup.
Quick answer. OSHA 1910.184 requires every sling to be inspected each day before use by a competent person. Alloy steel chain slings also need a thorough periodic inspection at least every 12 months, covering wear, defective welds, deformation and increase in length, and the employer must keep a record of the most recent month each sling was inspected.
Reviewed October 16, 2026 against the regulation text on osha.gov. Not legal advice: your AHJ, insurer or the manufacturer can require more.
The form
Blank form below. Print it, or choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog.
Alloy steel chain slings: periodic inspection record
| Sling ID | Size / grade | Rated capacity / reach | Month inspected | Wear | Welds | Deformation | Length increase | Result (in service / removed) | Initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record under 29 CFR 1910.184(e)(3)(ii). Periodic inspection at least every 12 months. Template from hovermarks.com.
What the regulation says
“Each day before being used, the sling and all fastenings and attachments shall be inspected for damage or defects by a competent person designated by the employer. Additional inspections shall be performed during sling use, where service conditions warrant. Damaged or defective slings shall be immediately removed from service.”
“The employer shall make and maintain a record of the most recent month in which each alloy steel chain sling was thoroughly inspected, and shall make such record available for examination.”
“The thorough inspection of alloy steel chain slings shall be performed by a competent person designated by the employer, and shall include a thorough inspection for wear, defective welds, deformation and increase in length. Where such defects or deterioration are present, the sling shall be immediately removed from service.”
Two inspections, one record
The daily check before use applies to every sling type and needs no record. The periodic inspection is specific to alloy steel chain slings: it must happen on a regular basis set by how often the sling is used, how severe the service is, the nature of the lifts and experience with similar slings, and in no case more than 12 months apart. That periodic inspection is what the record covers.
What each line should show
OSHA only requires the month of the most recent thorough inspection for each sling. A record that stops there is legal but not much use when a sling is pulled. The form below also carries the sling's identification and the result for each of the four conditions the inspection must cover, so the record explains why a sling was kept or removed.
Each alloy steel chain sling must also carry permanently affixed identification stating its size, grade, rated capacity and reach. Copy those from the tag, and treat a missing or unreadable tag as a reason to take the sling out of use until it is identified.
When a chain sling comes out of service
Immediately, if the inspection finds wear, defective welds, deformation or an increase in length, or if the chain size at any point of a link is below the minimum in OSHA Table N-184-1. The manufacturer's criteria and ASME B30.9 may be stricter, and the stricter rule is the one to follow.
Frequently asked
- How often must alloy steel chain slings be inspected?
- Every day before use by a competent person under 1910.184(d), plus a thorough periodic inspection on a regular basis no more than 12 months apart under 1910.184(e)(3)(i).
- What record does OSHA require for chain slings?
- A record of the most recent month in which each alloy steel chain sling was thoroughly inspected, available for examination, under 1910.184(e)(3)(ii).
- Do wire rope and synthetic slings need the same record?
- OSHA 1910.184 attaches the periodic inspection record specifically to alloy steel chain slings. All slings still need the daily inspection before use, and ASME B30.9 calls for documented periodic inspections of every sling type, which many insurers and customers expect.
- Who counts as a competent person for sling inspection?
- A person designated by the employer to inspect slings, which in practice means someone trained to recognize the removal criteria for the sling types in use and authorized to take a sling out of service.
Skip the paper
Hovermarks tags each sling with a QR code that holds its size, grade, rated capacity and reach. The periodic inspection runs on a phone, a sling that fails any condition is marked removed with a photo, and the next periodic inspection falls due on its own.
From $19 per user per month. 30-day free trial, no card.
Stop chasing paperwork.
Start proving compliance.
Tag your first asset, run your first inspection, and pull a signed evidence pack, all on your free 30-day trial. No credit card required.