Sling tension is a function of which of the following?

• A. All of the above
• B. Sling length
• C. Distance between the sling attachment points
• D. The spatial relationship between the sling attachment points and the center of gravity

Answer: (A)

Sling tension is governed by the lift geometry: how the weight is shared among the slings and the angles those slings make as they pull upward. The angle each sling forms with the vertical controls how much of the weight each sling must carry—the larger the angle (more horizontal pull), the higher the tension in the sling. Sling length changes that angle, and the distance between attachment points also reshapes the geometry of the lift, affecting how the weight is distributed. If the center of gravity isn’t located midway between the attachment points, the load isn’t shared evenly, causing one sling to take more tension than the other. Because each of these factors can change sling tension, all of them matter in determining how the load is carried.