Over the Edge - A Lashing Story - Part 1

Posted 17/07/2024

Lifting & Lashing Points, RUD Group, Safety, RUD News

This is a 2 part article.

Load securing during transportation faces many challenges, especially when dealing with loads that have sharp edges. The sharp edges pose a risk to the integrity of lashing equipment and can potentially lead to accidents, jeopardising the safety of vehicle occupants and other road users. Hence, understanding the potential dangers associated with sharp edges is critical to ensure safe and efficient transportation.

Sharp edges can cause considerable wear and tear on lashing equipment, primarily due to the concentrated stress they can impose on the lashing material. The repetitive bending and flexing of the lashing equipment as it goes over these edges can lead to fatigue, weakening the material and potentially causing failure. This failure can result in a sudden snap, a gradual weakening, or a distortion in the equipment's shape, resulting in a compromised load restraint system and a potential safety hazard.

In this article, we will address the question of what is considered a sharp edge and what measures should be taken to ensure safety when working with such angles.

Australian National Transport Commission and sharp edges

The National Transport Commission (NTC), in its Load Restraint Guide 2018, emphasises the importance of protecting lashing chains from sharp edges. This guide outlines a clear correlation between the sharpness of a corner and the chain's lashing capacity, highlighting the critical need to consider the load's geometry when selecting and using lashing equipment.

As per the guide, the lashing chain should be protected over sharp edges or rough surfaces to maintain its full lashing capacity.

When the corner radius (r) is less than the chain size (d), the chain's lashing capacity is reduced by 25%. The above figure is taken from the Australian Load Restraint Guide 2018.

Understanding the Corner Radius and Chain Diameter

When assessing load-securing options, the radius of the sharp edge should be considered in relation to the degree of flexibility of the lashing equipment. The corner radius (r) refers to the radius of the curve at the corner of the load, while the chain diameter (d) refers to the diameter of the chain link. Understanding the relationship between the two is critical because it influences the choice of lashing equipment.

To ensure safe and effective load securing, the corner radius should always be greater than the chain diameter. This ensures smooth chain movement over the corner without any risk of jamming, kinking, or undue stress. When the corner radius is less than the chain diameter, the chain experiences increased bending stress, leading to potential damage and reduced functionality.

Protective measures must be implemented to reduce the risk when the corner radius is smaller than the chain diameter. Edge protectors are an excellent option because they serve as an intermediary between the chain and the load, preventing direct contact and protecting the chain from premature wear and tear.

To be continued ...

Article copyright to RUD Group. This information is accurate at the time of publication, and RUD Australia takes no responsibility for any errors, inadvertent or otherwise.

Back to news

What Our Clients Say About RUD Australia

At RUD, we are all about our clients. Our collaborative approach makes us a partner of choice for organisations that value quality.

Read why our clients trust us to deliver excellence in chain technology and engineered services.

Laminex Monkland Pine Panels

Queensland

We are happy to deal with RUD because of their product quality, customer service and competitive pricing. They are very efficient when submitting quotes with a short lead time and are always available when we need them.

Onsite support is excellent and always professional.

14 Feb, 2023

Hillview Quarries

Victoria

RUD Chains has a great product with an exceptional back-up and field service. We have previously bought from Chinese manufacturers and European companies, but we will stay with RUD due to the quality of the product and availability of service personnel.

14 Feb, 2023

Laurie Patterson

Patterson Crane Hire loves a challenge and RUD lifting gear helps us solve these challenges. The weight saving gains when we use their Grade 120 ICE range really makes a difference and minimises our risk when we are managing difficult, heavy lifts.

Simply put, this is why we choose to work with quality suppliers like RUD.

12 Mar, 2021

Graeme Jones

Operations Manager, Holcim Werribee

At Holcim (Werribee) we rely on RUD Tyre Protection Chains. Their strong expertise and professionalism is on display when they fit and maintain our chains on site. The team works hard to keep us safe, enable our machines to stay in operation and minimise our costs.

10 Mar, 2021

Marcus Ghikas

Managing Director, Air and Allied

Air & Allied Sales (Pacific) has partnered with RUD Chains for the past 25 years to deliver outstanding engineered solutions. The professional and continued relationship with Ian and his team allows us to continue to support our customers above and beyond their needs.

Our recent requirements have pushed the limits of a standard supplier’s capabilities, but RUD Chains have never...

5 Mar, 2021

Richard Devereux, Managing Director

ACRAN

As Managing Director of ACRAN, we are always excited to provide innovative and quality technical solutions to the market for industrial ventilation, filtration and noise control solutions.

Recently we completed a project where RUD chain drives provided a controlled drive solution for an Engineered lift and fulfilled the requirements. ACRAN is grateful for the technical and on-site...

4 Mar, 2021

Sarah Forbes

Gemilang

At Gemilang, we’re confident that our high-quality Endurequip-made Portalifts and vehicle stands will continue to serve us well as we build more buses for the Australian market. These provide us unparalleled underbody access, thereby giving our clients the reassurance that every single bus component, from top to bottom, is designed, manufactured, secured and inspected thoroughly by our...

1 Mar, 2021

Gavin Witton

Project Leader, CQCN North Wagon Operations, Aurizon

The team at Jilalan appreciate the quality service you provided in the design, fabrication and commissioning of our platforms for our Wagon remediation project.

RUD's attention to detail and great communications skills ensured that our project was completed to the highest standard and exceeded our expectations. From the start of the procurement process you committed to ensuring time...

1 Mar, 2021

Jim Grima

Grima Recycling

Grima Recycling have been working the team at RUD in realising our plant expansion project. The modular RUD chain conveyor has proved to be reliable and effective for the transfer of our recycled products from the loader hopper and up the inclined slop as part of our new process line. The regular contact and support provided by RUD compliments the RUD system quality.

1 Mar, 2021

Forbes Day, Operations Manager

Enco Precast Pty Ltd

ENCO Precast have been involved with RUD for over 10 years now, predominantly for the supply of the Philipp Group Lifting Hoops for Prestressed Precast Concrete elements for bridges. The engineering support led by RUD's Engineering Manager Matt Pauli is always outstanding and has kept us loyal to RUD.

27 Jan, 2021