Safe working load
The maximum load that a piece of lifting or load-bearing equipment is designed to carry safely. Lifting equipment must be clearly marked with its safe working load or working load limit.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“safe working load”SWLExact equivalentLOLER 1998 (regulation 7) requires that lifting equipment and accessories are clearly marked with their safe working load. Where the safe working load is dependent on the configuration, the safe working load must be marked for each configuration. The SWL must not be exceeded in use.
Irish HSA
“safe working load”Close equivalentThe General Application Regulations 2007 (Part 2, Chapter 2) require lifting equipment to be marked with its maximum load. The concept is equivalent to the GB SWL requirement.
US OSHA
“rated capacity”Close equivalentOSHA uses rated capacity or working load limit rather than safe working load. 29 CFR 1910.179 (overhead cranes) requires the rated load to be marked on each side of the crane bridge. Other lifting equipment standards have similar marking requirements.
Practitioner note: Marked on the equipment and not to be exceeded, including the weight of slings and accessories. Dynamic loading during a lift exceeds the static weight.