A crane operator is preparing to lift a 2,000 kg load using two chain slings in a 60-degree basket hitch. What is the approximate tension on each sling leg?

Question: A crane operator is preparing to lift a 2,000 kg load using two chain slings in a 60-degree basket hitch. What is the approximate tension on each sling leg?

Answer options:

• 1,000 kg ✅ 1,155 kg
• 2,000 kg
• 2,310 kg

Correct answer: 1,155 kg

Explanation: For a basket hitch with a 60-degree angle, the tension on each sling leg is calculated by (Load Weight / 2) / cos(angle from vertical). So, (2000 kg / 2) / cos(30 degrees from vertical) = 1000 kg / 0.866 = 1154.7 kg. The 'angle from vertical' is half the included angle when using the common formula for included angle, or if considering the load shares equally, the formula Load / (number of slings * cos(angle from vertical)) is used. Here, the angle given is the sling's deviation from the vertical, often denoted as 'sling angle' in relation to the horizontal plane. However, the question implies the included angle between the slings is 60 degrees, which means each sling is at 30 degrees from the vertical. Thus, the tension for each leg is Load Weight / (2 * cos(30°)) = 2000 kg / (2 * 0.866) = 2000 kg / 1.732 = 1154.7 kg. Distractor A is incorrect because it ignores the sling angle entirely. Distractor C represents the total load, not the tension per sling.