Are there any recommendations for the inspection of shackles?

It is required that shackles are regularly inspected and that the inspection should take place in accordance with the safety standards given in the country of use. This is required because the products in use may be affected by wear, misuse, overloading etc. with a consequence of deformation and alteration of the material structure. Inspection should take place at least every six months and even more frequently when the shackles are used in severe operating conditions.

Shackles should be inspected to ensure that:

  • all markings are legible;
  • the body and pin are both identifiable as being of the same size, type and make;
  • the threads of the pin and the body are undamaged;
  • for a safety bolt type shackle is used with the split cotter pin;
  • the body and the pin are not distorted or unduly worn;
  • the body and pin are free from nicks, gouges, cracks and corrosion;
  • shackles are not heat treated as this may affect their Working Load Limit;
  • the shackle is not modified, repaired or reshaped by welding, heating, machining or bending as this will affect the Working Load Limit;

Remove the shackle from service if:

  • all markings are not  clearly legible;
  • body and pin can not be identified as being from same size, type and make;
  • the threads of the pin and/or body are damaged;
  • for a safety bolt type shackle the split cotter pin is missing;
  • the body and/or pin is distorted or unduly worn, the maximum allowable wear is 10% of the original dimension;
  • the body and/or pin is not free from nicks, gouges, cracks or corrosion;
  • the shackle has been exposed to any heat treatment;
  • the shackle is modified, repaired or reshaped by welding, heating, machining or bending;
  • t is expected that before the next periodical inspection any of the inspection criteria above will not be passed;

FAQ-Reference: PI-06-01. Rev: 0.