Do ratchet straps need testing?

Essential for the safe and secure transportation of heavy loads from point A to point B, ratchet straps and other load binding products play a crucial role in preventing accidents and costly delays.

Whether you’re in the haulage business, delivery, construction, or car transportation, the importance of testing these vital heavy-duty straps shouldn’t be underestimated.

Do ratchet straps need to be tested?

So, do ratchet straps need testing? In short, yes.

While ratchet straps do not require individual testing before being sold in the UK, new products should be rigorously tested for a variety of reasons, including:

EN 12195-2 Standard

The European standard for web lashings that are used to secure loads during road transport, EN 12195-2 outlines the specific requirements that these man-made restraints must meet to be considered fit for purpose.

These requirements cover everything from labelling and testing procedures to width, length, and minimum strength requirements.

Legal compliance

As per the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998 under the overarching Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974, employers have a duty to ensure that work equipment is both suitable for the intended use and safe to use.

Extensive testing offers greater confidence to businesses that commonly transport heavy goods using ratchet straps.

Public safety

Alongside meeting all the relevant regulations and standards, testing ratchet straps is key to tackling the thousands of accidents that are caused by loose or failing ratchet straps every year in the UK.

Potentially costly and time-consuming, thorough testing plays an important role in preventing your business from facing legal action following ratchet-strap-related injuries or accidents, too.

How to test a ratchet strap

To ensure that straps sold in the UK comply with EN 12195-2 standard, they must be properly tested for strength, durability, and safety. Crucially, these tests are concerned with checking:

Lashing Capacity

The ratchet strap’s lashing capacity (the maximum amount of force the ratchet strap can withhold before breaking) must be tested to determine the strap’s strength and performance under load.

This is measured in deka-Newtons (daN) and should be clearly written on the ratchet strap label.

Standard Tension Force (STF)

Also known as pre-tension force, the standard tension force of ratchet straps should also be tested as this is another way to measure strength. It refers to the amount of tension created after the ratchet has been tightened and this measurement should also be included on the strap’s label.

Elongation

Elongation refers to the amount a ratchet strap stretches when under tension and fully tightened. This is another figure (expressed as a percentage of the strap's total length) that should be included on the strap’s label.

According to European standards, elongation should not exceed 7% when tightened to its WWL, but most have an average elongation of 4%.

Webbing material

In accordance with the EN 12195-2 standard, the webbing of ratchet straps should be assessed to ensure it’s appropriate. Natural fibres (such as cotton) aren’t suitable for this purpose as they lack the required strength, durability, and resistance to stretching and degradation.

Instead, polyester is the most common choice of webbing material, with other man-made fibres like polyamide and polypropylene being suitable alternatives.

Tie down angle

Incorrect tie down angles on ratchet straps can have a negative impact on the strap's effectiveness, potentially causing load instability or failure. Ensuring that the angle is no less than 90 degrees is vital to preventing the load from shifting or sliding during transport.

How often should ratchet straps be inspected?

Ratchet straps should undergo comprehensive inspection both before and after each use. For long journeys, it may also be wise to regularly inspect the straps during transport.

While this may seem excessive, regularly checking for significant wear and tear such as cuts, fraying, and holes on the webbing, alongside potential corrosion or damage to the buckle and hardware, can help to prevent a wide range of accidents.

From road accidents to personal injuries, regular ratchet strap inspection protects not only the user and wider workforce, but also the public.

How do you inspect a ratchet strap?

When inspecting a ratchet strap, there are three key areas you should consider. This includes the:

1. Webbing

As the material component of the ratchet strap, signs of cuts, tears, fraying, broken stiches, abrasion, mould, and fading or discolouration should all be taken into account when inspecting the webbing of the ratchet strap.

Put simply, the user should any significant wear of tear that could weaken the webbing.

2. Hardware

Inclusive of the buckle, hooks and attachments, and ratchet mechanism itself, all aspects of the hardware must be inspected to ensure it’s safe to use. These components are typically made of steel or another type of metal making them vulnerable to corrosion (like rusting) and bending.

In short, you need to look for any damage that could impact the operation of the locking mechanism.

3. Label

In the UK, it’s a legal requirement that all ratchet straps have a visible, intact label that’s securely attached to the webbing. This is because it contains important information about the strap’s Working Load Limit (WLL) – the maximum weight or force the ratchet strap can safely handle.

It’s for this reason that damaged or missing labels can render the ratchet strap non-compliant with safety standards and therefore unfit for use.

Why is it important to maintain ratchet straps?

Appropriately maintaining ratchet straps has many benefits – it can help to:

Prevent public accidents

Ratchet strap maintenance is vital for one core reason – safety. The dangers of loose or failed ratchet straps is well-documented by trusted sources like Highways England who found that over 5,500 accidents in the UK were attributed to ratchet strap issues in 2019 alone.

Protect employees

As employers have a legal duty in the UK to ensure that all work equipment is safe for their employees to use, they must adhere to the proper maintenance procedures for ratchet straps.

Increase cost-efficacy

Looking after existing ratchet straps is also a far more cost-effective approach for businesses.

Failing to implement the right maintenance can not only speed up wear and tear (leading to the need to purchase replacement straps), but also increase the risk of costly accidents.

Prevent legal issues

In the event that employers don’t abide by the necessary maintenance requirements for ratchet straps, they could be faced with legal issues and fines related to improper load securing – especially if a failed ratchet strap has caused a significant accident or injury.

Minimise downtime

By regularly maintaining the ratchet straps, you’re reducing the likelihood of related problems and failures. This can help your business to minimise potential downtime and delays when transporting items from A to B.

Practical tips for prolonging the life of ratchet straps

Our five top practical tips for prolonging the life of ratchet straps includes:

Avoiding overloading

Every ratchet strap should have a label that outlines its maximum WWL or lashing capacity. Exceeding this capacity is likely to cause excessive strain and damage, and may even lead to breaking of the webbing or ratchet mechanism.

Ratchet strap operators should therefore pay extra attention to this measurement and ensure they’re using the most appropriate ratchet strap for the load and application.

Frequent inspections

Another top tip for prolonging the life of ratchet straps is to carry out regular inspections. This will help you to identify potential problems early and rectify them before they develop into more serious issues.

For example, if you notice slight rusting on the ratchet mechanism, you should consider applying a suitable lubricant to help prevent the problem from worsening.

Regular cleaning

To help maintain the integrity of ratchet straps, cleaning is vital. Often exposed to the elements and all kinds of dirt and debris (especially if used in the construction industry), ratchet straps should be regularly cleaned using a mild soap solution and damp cloth.

Even with more stubborn stains, such as those caused by corrosive materials, you should avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach as they can weaken or damage the webbing. Once cleaned, the ratchet straps should be allowed to air dry.

Mechanism maintenance

As most ratchet strap hardware is made from steel, we recommend regularly using a suitable silicone spray or industrial oil. This will not only prevent time-consuming and frustrating issues with the mechanism from seizing up, but also help to fend off damaging rusting.

Safe storage

When the ratchet straps aren’t being used, proper storage is vital to tackling a long list of issues including the growth of mould, fading caused by sunlight exposure, and the build-up of rust.

Storing ratchet straps in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight is therefore key to maintaining their condition.

Reliable, fully-certified ratchet straps

As the leading UK supplier of ratchet straps, we stock a wide range of strong, high-quality ratchet strap and load binding solutions from just 800kg up to an impressive 10,000kg.

Featuring competitively priced models with anchor plates, S-hooks, delta rings, looped ends, and claw hooks in a variety of different lengths and widths, we can help you to safely secure and transport heavy loads with ease.

For greater peace of mind, you can rest assured that all our ratchet straps conform to current UK and European regulations and come complete with full certification.

Looking for something a little more bespoke? As experienced ratchet strap manufacturers, we can work with you to manufacture the most suitable load binding solution for your specific requirements.

For some of our ratchet straps, next day delivery is also available, ensuring speedy dispatch and limited disruption to your day-to-day operations.

To learn more about the full range of ratchet straps available at Load Straps & Slings or for expert support selecting a more tailored option, talk to our helpful team today.

Call: 020 3978 2137

Email: info@loadstraps.co.uk