5.5.3 Rope Construction

The wire rope supplied for use with a lifting and pulling machine should be considered as much an integral part of the mechanism as is the chain of a chain hoist or lever hoist. Some ropes, even those which appear to be of the correct size and which initially the machine may seem to accept, may not be suitable because the efficiency and safety of the friction grip of the machine’s jaws around the rope depend entirely upon the rope being of the right diameter and of a construction designed to withstand the immense gripping power of the jaws. It is essential therefore to use only ropes approved by the rope or machine manufacturer and certified by them as suitable for this use.