Equipment Requirements
This inspection procedure requires minimal equipment. You will need a clean, flat surface to fully extend the strap (shop floor, clean ground, or suspended between two anchor points) and adequate lighting for visual examination. No specialized tools are necessary.
Detailed Inspection Process
Begin by laying out the tow strap in its full length on a clean surface or suspending it between two secure points. Straighten the strap completely to eliminate any twists or folds. Conduct an initial visual assessment to identify any obvious damage before proceeding with detailed examination.
Eye Loop Examination
Start your inspection at one of the eye loops. Place both hands around the eye opening and examine the internal surface. Run your thumb around the interior edge, feeling for cuts, rough spots, or wear patterns from shackles and/or anchor points.
Next, inspect the stitching where the eye loop connects to the main webbing. Verify that all stitches are present and intact. Look for loose threads, gaps in the stitching, or any signs of separation between the eye loop and the main webbing.
Key indicators of eye loop damage include cuts or tears anywhere on the loop, missing or broken stitches, stretched or distorted eye openings, and excessive wear on the interior edge that creates sharp or rough areas.
Main Webbing Inspection
Employ the hand-over-hand method for systematic examination of the main webbing. Position both hands on the stra. Apply moderate pressure while maintaining contact with the webbing surface. Move your hands down the length of the strap in overlapping increments, ensuring complete coverage of the entire surface.
During this tactile examination, you are detecting hard spots or lumps that may indicate embedded foreign objects such as glass, metal shards, or debris. Feel for soft or compressed areas that suggest internal webbing damage. Run your fingers along both edges to locate cuts, tears, or fraying. Note any sections that exhibit unusual stiffness or brittleness, which may indicate heat or chemical damage.
Simultaneously conduct a visual inspection while performing the tactile examination. Monitor the webbing for color consistency along its entire length. Fading or bleaching indicates UV damage from sun exposure, while dark spots suggest contamination from oil, grease, or chemicals. Different colored patches or patterns may indicate heat damage.
Examine the surface for cuts, nicks, gouges, burn marks, melted areas, or unusual shininess that suggests fiber damage. Fuzzy or fluffy areas indicate surface wear. Check both edges for fraying, stitching separation, or raw edges.
Secondary Eye Loop Verification
Repeat the complete eye loop inspection procedure at the opposite end of the strap. Compare wear patterns between both eye loops to identify any asymmetrical damage or unusual loading patterns.
Material Condition Testing
Conduct a flexibility assessment by selecting several points along the strap's length. Fold the webbing gently at each point to test its bending characteristics. Normal webbing material should bend easily without resistance. Stiffness, brittleness, or crackling sounds during flexion indicate material degradation.
Perform an olfactory assessment by examining the strap for unusual odors. Chemical odors suggest possible damage from exposure to acids or solvents. Burnt smells indicate heat damage. Musty or moldy odors suggest improper drying or storage conditions.
Removal Criteria
Remove the tow strap from service immediately if any of the following conditions are present: cuts penetrating through webbing yarns regardless of size, embedded foreign objects (glass, metal, or debris) that cannot be safely extracted, stitching damage at eye loops, evidence of chemical exposure including burns or staining, heat damage manifested as melting, glazing, or brittle areas, knots tied anywhere in the strap, visible mold or mildew growth, or previous unauthorized repairs using tape, wire, or other materials.
Inspection Classification System
All tow strap users must understand and implement the following three levels of inspection:
Initial Inspection
This inspection is conducted before first use upon receipt of the strap. The purpose is to verify the tow strap meets specifications and has not sustained damage during transit. The process includes confirming the strap is the correct product as ordered, verifying compliance with manufacturer specifications, checking for shipping damage, and verifying proper identification and markings are present.
Frequent Inspection
Frequent inspections are performed daily or before each shift under normal service conditions, or before each use in severe operating conditions. These inspections may be conducted by the user or other designated personnel. The purpose is to identify obvious damage or issues before deployment.
During frequent inspections, examine the strap for cut or torn yarns or webbing, holes, snags, or punctures, abrasive wear, knots, crushed webbing, heat or chemical damage, UV degradation including fading or stiffness, and end fitting damage.
Periodic Inspection
Periodic inspections occur at regular intervals not exceeding one year and should be performed by designated personnel, preferably someone other than those conducting frequent inspections. The purpose is comprehensive assessment of strap condition and verification of frequent inspection practices. The inspection criteria mirror those of frequent inspections but require more thorough and detailed examination.
Recommended intervals vary by service type: normal service warrants yearly inspection, severe service requires monthly to quarterly inspection, and special service follows recommendations from qualified personnel.
Critical Safety Requirements
If any of the following conditions are discovered during inspection, regardless of inspection level, immediately remove the tow strap from service: cuts, tears, or holes in the webbing; significant abrasion or wear; heat or chemical damage; end fitting damage or deformation; knots in any part of the strap; or any condition that raises doubt about the strap's structural integrity.
Storage Protocols
Ensure straps are completely dry before storage to prevent mildew growth and material degradation. Store in locations protected from direct sunlight to prevent UV damage. Maintain storage areas with controlled temperature and humidity levels. Store straps either flat or loosely coiled to prevent creasing or permanent deformation. Keep straps isolated from chemicals, fuels, corrosive materials, and sharp objects. Avoid placing other equipment or materials on top of stored straps.
In Summary
Proper tow strap inspection requires systematic examination of all components using both tactile and visual methods. When uncertainty exists regarding a strap's condition, obtain a second opinion or replace the strap. Tow straps are critical safety equipment, and compromising on inspection standards can result in equipment failure with serious consequences.
Remember that a tow strap failure can cause severe injury or death. Maintain rigorous inspection standards without exception, regardless of the intended application or load.
