Slings can be used in any of the following four "HITCHES":

Vertical or straight attachment to the load by using hooks, shackles, or other hardware.

Choker hitches are used when conditions allow for safe "choking" of the load by the sling.  In all cases care must be taken to insure the following:

1. The load will not be damaged by the sling body.
2. The sling will not be damaged by the load.
3. All adjustments to the sling must be made prior to lifting.  Tightening the sling during lifting may result in burns which seriously damage the sling and may cause sling failure.
4. The choke point should be on the sling body and not against the splice or base of the sling eye.

Basket hitches are used to distribute the load equally between sling legs.  See section below on effect of angles on sling legs.

Bridle hitches are used when two or more slings are needed to provide load control.

All hitch styles are shown below.

Consideration must always be given to the angle at which a sling is to be used.  Any angle from vertical will decrease the sling's capacity.  Capacity reduction is determined by the "sling to hook angle", shown as angle "A" below.  To calculate the capacity of a sling used at an angle, multiply the sling's load rating by the appropriate factor in the "Sling Load Chart" below.  This will give you the sling's reduced rated capacity.

Sling Load Chart

Angle-Degrees	Angle-Factor	Angle-Degrees	Angle-Factor
90º	1.000	50º	.760
85º	.9962	45º	.7071
80º	.9848	40º	.6428
75º	.9659	35º	.5736
70º	.9397	30º	.5000
65º	.9063	25º	.4226
60º	.8660	20º	.3420
55º	.8192	15º	.2589